Tractor-Trailer Snags Overhead Wires at Weed and Elm; Traffic Detoured Around Intersection

Update 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8

Crews are working on the power lines Wednesday morning, police said, and could have the intersection reopened at 10 or 11 a.m.

Original Article

Officials closed Weed Street between Frogtown and Wahackme Roads early Tuesday afternoon after a tractor-trailer snagged low-hanging overhead wires.

Elm Street also was closed to traffic east of Hatfield Mews, as police and firefighters waited for the power company to arrive, officials at the scene said.

Though no Eversource customers in New Canaan appeared to have lost power because of the incident, “I would tend to think that when they get here, they will have to shut down power in the area” in order to get the wires back up, Fire Chief Jack Hennessey said.

Emergency responders responded to the incident at a bout 12:23 p.m. No one was hurt and no other vehicles were involved.

“When it is really hot, the wires tend to droop because they get hot,” Hennessey said at members of the New Canaan Police Department set up barriers to traffic along Weed and Elm Streets. “The same thing happens on Metro-North, you will notice a lot of wires come down on Metro-North on a really hot day.”

It appeared that a new utility pole had been installed and was leaning toward the street. Hennessey said it wasn’t clear whether there was an existing problem with the new pole that set the wires lower than usual.

The circuit breakers at the intersection appeared to be intact, Hennessey said.

NewCanaanite.com will have more information as soon as it’s available.