BIG RIG SEVERES UTILITY POLE, 3500 MERRILL RESIDENTS HIT WITH SHORT-TERM POWER OUTAGE

Shortly before 11:50 am Wednesday morning, 3500 residents across the City of Merrill lost power due to a semi-truck hauling a gravel-loader conveyor trailer taking out a utility pole at the corner of East Main and Stuyvesant Streets. Initial reports indicated the driver of the semi failed to properly negotiate the curve, allowing the rig to strike and sever the pole, leaving it hanging from power lines.

Merrill Fire Department ladder trucks were on scene immediately following reports of the incident along with Merrill Police Officers. WPS utility vehicles arrived shortly thereafter and immediately started the process of removing the utility pole and the accompanying transformer and other wiring and electrical fixtures. Work was completed promptly, and power was fully restored to all areas affected by 12:20 PM.