Truck crash brings power down

By Alison Noonan
POWER was cut to hundreds of businesses in Hallam’s industrial hub for four hours when a truck slammed into an electricity pole last week.
It is believed the driver of the truck was making a delivery to a Hallam South Road factory about 10am on Thursday when the incident happened.
The truck rolled down the driveway and across the busy thoroughfare, splitting a wooden electricity pole in two as it came to a crashing halt on Melverton Drive.
Media spokeswoman for electricity provider SP AusNet Emma Daniell-Edwards said the smash brought down power lines on Hallam South Road and cut power to about 4000 people in the surrounding area.
Witnesses in the nearby 7-Eleven convenience store said they heard a ‘huge bang’ before the lights flickered and the shop lost all power.
“It was a massive bang. I didn’t know what it was,” one witness said.
“I saw smoke and sparks and thought it was an accident so I called an ambulance.
“The driver of the truck was bawling his eyes out. He was pretty upset because he was worried about losing his job, I guess,” she said.
A 7-Eleven employee, who did not wish to be named, said the power loss would have a marked effect on business on one of the store’s busiest days.
“Thursday is pay day so we are always busy,” she said.
“If the power is out for most of the day and traffic is blocked we will definitely lose a lot of business.”
Ms Daniell-Edwards said SP AusNet crews worked swiftly to restore power to the majority of homes and businesses within 20 minutes, with the last affected homes back on line at 2.30pm.
Narre Warren police Senior Constable Chris Tetof said the road was blocked for two hours as workers removed live wires from the road.
He said it was extremely lucky the situation was relatively harmless.
“The incident had the potential to be a lot worse.
“At that time of day on a major thoroughfare it is very lucky that the truck didn’t collide with another car or head up enough steam to crash into a building.
“There were also live wires down on the road, which could have hit passing cars.
“So while it was an unlucky situation it is just lucky no-one was hurt,” he said.
Hallam fire officer Don Tompkins said CFA crews protected the scene from sparking wires and diverted traffic until police arrived.
Sen Const Tetof said no charges had been laid against the driver, a sub-contractor from Oakleigh.