Refuse lorry accident brings down power lines, cutting off homes

MORE than 50 properties were left without power after a refuse lorry ploughed into an overhead electricity line in Totton, snapping a pole and bringing cables down onto the road.

The incident took place in Salisbury Road shortly before 11.30am on Wednesday when, according to police, a Biffa lorry’s top door accidentally opened while it was being driven and struck the line.

Firefighters responded, along with officers, and traffic hold-ups ensued as they worked to make the scene safe.

Suffering from shock, the lorry driver was treated at the scene by the Redbridge fire crew without the need for an ambulance.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) engineers were sent to deal with the snapped pole and downed lines which had initially cut off supplies to 15 properties in the area.

In order to carry out the repairs, the team had to isolate the power at around 1.45pm, cutting off another 41 properties.

Most of the supplies were reconnected within the next 40 minutes, but a spokesperson for SSEN said more work was needed with the hope that the remaining 20 would be restored by 11pm.

“We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding as our engineers work to get the power back on as safely and as quickly as possible,” she said.

Officers posted a report about the incident on the Totton Police Facebook page.

“PCSO Connor and PC Grindley are at the scene of an accident on Salisbury Road,” the post said.

“A waste refuse lorry has had an unfortunate accident with the top door opening whilst driving.”