VAN TAKES OUT POWER POLE, LEADING TO NEARLY THREE-HOUR POWER OUTAGE

Photo credits: Nathan Miller and Kyle Bailey

October 22, 2022 12:50 p.m. 

A van striking a power pole in the 1800 block of Northeast Diamond Lake Boulevard led to a nearly three-hour power outage for residents of  northeast Roseburg on Friday.

The eastbound vehicle took out the pole adjacent to a gas station and convenience store at 4:32 p.m. While the van had significant damage, the driver was apparently not hurt. The man told an employee of The News Review that he had fallen asleep after working a 12-hour shift at his job.

Eastbound traffic on Diamond Lake Boulevard was shut down for a short time, but was opened to one lane after that, while power company crews began to deal with the damage. Roseburg Police Chief Gary Klopfenstein said he was glad traffic flow could be partially restored, given the large number of vehicles the road carries that time of day.

Pacific Power Regional Business Manager Sam Carter said 2520 customers were without power until 7:21 p.m. Carter said the pole had to be replaced, some downed line at a different location had to be cleaned up, and other miscellaneous damage repaired.