Semi-Truck Damage Triggers Power Shutoff

San Jose firefighters responded Thursday to a semi-truck with a damaged axle near South First Street and East Alma Avenue after officials said it was at risk of rolling into a power pole. PG&E shut off electricity in the area as a precaution, and authorities warned that thousands of customers could lose service for several hours. Police and transportation officials closed roads around the scene and told drivers to avoid the area. The truck was carrying about 78,000 pounds of scrap metal, according to local reports citing fire officials. ### Where did the truck stop, and why did crews cut power? South First Street and East Alma Avenue in San Jose’s Spartan Keyes area became the focus of the response after the truck came to rest in a tilted position near a utility pole. The San Jose Fire Department said the semi had a damaged axle and could potentially strike the nearby pole if it shifted. (nbcbayarea.com) PG&E planned the shutoff as a safety measure while crews worked around the vehicle, NBC Bay Area reported. ABC7 reported the outage was expected to last for hours while responders stabilized the truck and managed the hazard. ### How many people were expected to lose electricity? PG&E said the precautionary shutoff could affect thousands of customers in the area. (nbcbayarea.com) NBC Bay Area reported that as many as 8,000 customers could lose power for at least three hours while crews responded. PG&E’s outage center showed 737 customers affected across 41 outages as of 2:55 a.m. PDT on May 22, 2026, though that system reflects broader utility conditions and not necessarily only the San Jose incident. (nbcbayarea.com) ### What do officials say happened to the truck? San Jose fire officials said the truck’s rear axle was damaged, though the cause of that damage remained under investigation. KTVU reported the big rig ran into trouble while trying to make a turn. (nbcbayarea.com) The load inside the truck added to the concern. KTVU and NBC Bay Area reported the vehicle was hauling an estimated 78,000 pounds of scrap metal, increasing the risk if the truck rolled or shifted into the pole. (pge.com) ### Which agencies were at the scene? The San Jose Fire Department led the emergency response at the intersection, with PG&E crews handling the utility shutdown. (ktvu.com) NBC Bay Area reported that police and transportation officials were also on scene as roads were blocked around the truck. CBS News Bay Area reported that the disabled big rig blocked multiple roads south of downtown San Jose because of its position. (ktvu.com) Authorities told drivers to avoid the area while crews worked. ### What changed later in the day? Bay City News, as carried by SFGATE, reported later Thursday that the leaning truck had been stabilized and power had been partly restored. (nbcbayarea.com) That report said the response began after a 9:25 a.m. call and continued through the day as towing and utility crews worked at the intersection. Thursday’s next steps centered on towing the truck, checking the condition of the power pole and restoring service block by block. (cbsnews.com) PG&E, San Jose firefighters and police were the named agencies handling those steps as the scene remained active. (sfgate.com)