Crash cuts power, snarls traffic in Seattle
SEATTLE -- A semi crashed into a power pole Wednesday morning, knocking out power to 3,600 homes and businesses and backing up traffic on Interstate 5.
Police said a semi-truck crashed into the pole just before 9 a.m. near the intersection of Yale Avenue North and Stewart Street.
No one was hurt, but the crash knocked down a transformer and wires, cutting power to customers in the Capitol Hill, First Hill and South Lake Union neighborhoods.
Crews blocked off roads in the area, which caused traffic backups for drivers trying to get off and on nearby I-5. At its peak, the backup on the mainline stretched from Downtown to about Northgate Mall while the line to exit Stewart on the Express lanes was about 1/2 mile.
Seattle City Light said service should be restored by noon for customers who lost power.
Police said a semi-truck crashed into the pole just before 9 a.m. near the intersection of Yale Avenue North and Stewart Street.
No one was hurt, but the crash knocked down a transformer and wires, cutting power to customers in the Capitol Hill, First Hill and South Lake Union neighborhoods.
Crews blocked off roads in the area, which caused traffic backups for drivers trying to get off and on nearby I-5. At its peak, the backup on the mainline stretched from Downtown to about Northgate Mall while the line to exit Stewart on the Express lanes was about 1/2 mile.
Seattle City Light said service should be restored by noon for customers who lost power.
Never a dull moment in Seattle..except for the M's.
Our power flickered several times around that time here in north Capitol Hill. Never lost power though. Was wondering what happened...
I was at the intersection when it happened. I initially thought the explosions were from  gunfire.
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http://blog.joehuffman.org/2013/02/13/my-morning-adrenaline-rush/
 @JoeHuffman I like your blog.
@Root Please Thank you!
No, the backup was clear up into Snohomish County at the Swamp Creek interchange where I 405 interfaces with I 5. It was stop and crawl when I looked over from NB I 5 at 9:00.
@Glassman that area is always backed up these days at that hour... reason why I chose to move south as opposed to north when I was purchasing my first home
@Freespeech True, dat, but it was more congested than usual, even for that area.