Semi-Truck Forces Power Shutdown Near Downtown

San Jose firefighters shut down a stretch of streets south of downtown on May 21 after a semi-truck with a damaged axle came to rest near a power pole at South First Street and East Alma Avenue, authorities said. The truck, carrying an estimated 78,000 pounds of scrap metal, was at risk of rolling over, according to the San Jose Fire Department. PG&E cut power in the area as a precaution, a move officials said could affect 7,000 to 8,000 customers for at least three hours. A Sacred Heart Community Service building next to the incident was evacuated, and drivers were told to avoid the area. ### How did a disabled truck turn into a power shutdown? The San Jose Fire Department said crews were dispatched at 9:25 a.m. after a semi with a damaged axle was reported at the intersection. Fire officials said the truck could tip into a nearby power pole, creating a risk that pushed PG&E to de-energize lines in the area. (nbcbayarea.com) NBC Bay Area reported that the shutdown was expected to last at least three hours. Fire officials said the department was operating in unified command with the San Jose Police Department, PG&E and the city’s Department of Transportation. ### What was the truck carrying, and why did that matter? The truck was hauling about 78,000 pounds of scrap metal, according to the San Jose Fire Department. (nbcbayarea.com) That load was part of what made the vehicle’s position a concern as crews worked to keep it from rolling over. CBS News Bay Area described the vehicle as a semi hauling a dump trailer, and said the damaged rear axle left the big rig teetering next to the pole. (nbcbayarea.com) Authorities did not immediately identify the driver or say what caused the axle damage. ### Which neighborhoods and buildings were affected? (nbcbayarea.com) PG&E’s precautionary shutoff was expected to hit thousands of customers in neighborhoods near and south of downtown San Jose, according to local reports citing fire officials. NBC Bay Area said the outage could affect between 7,000 and 8,000 customers, while CBS News Bay Area reported about 7,000 customers were without power after the cutoff began around 1:20 p.m. (cbsnews.com) Sacred Heart Community Service’s building adjacent to the scene was evacuated as a precaution, officials said. Fire officials did not report injuries in the initial updates carried by local outlets. ### Why were roads around South First and Alma closed? Traffic was shut down in all directions leading to the intersection, according to the San Jose Fire Department as cited by CBS News Bay Area. (nbcbayarea.com) NBC Bay Area said drivers were urged to use alternate routes while police, PG&E crews and transportation officials managed the response. KRON4 later reported that traffic remained closed in both directions at East Alma Avenue and South First Street as towing preparations continued. That report also said fire officials described the rollover hazard as stabilized later in the afternoon. ### Did the outage end when the truck was stabilized? (nbcbayarea.com) KRON4 reported that power was restored to customers who had lost service earlier in the afternoon, but a separate outage affecting 3,770 PG&E customers followed during restoration efforts, citing the San Jose Fire Department. Fire officials said the later outage was the result of restoring power, and no estimate for full restoration was immediately available in that update. (kron4.com) Bay City News, as carried by SFGATE, reported that power had been restored by 4:37 p.m., though a new outage affecting 3,770 customers occurred during restoration efforts. The same report said a tow truck was working to remove the semi shortly before 5 p.m. ### What should people watch for next? (kron4.com) May 21 updates from San Jose fire officials said the truck was expected to be towed once crews stabilized it and protected the nearby utility equipment. PG&E’s outage center remained the public source for restoration status, while traffic conditions around South First Street and East Alma Avenue depended on when towing and utility work were finished. (kron4.com) (sfgate.com)