The driver of an 18-wheeler leaving Minden Medical Center on Chaffee Street accidentally damaged 6 utility poles, 5 of which were owned by AT&T, a local business and three vehicles.
Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said the driver had been visiting his wife at MMC and parked his truck on Chaffee.
“The driver said as he pulled on to McDonald Street, heading toward Broadway, he had made the corner free, he thought,” McIver said. “He looked in his mirror and saw power lines popping and realized his trailer had caught on the lines.”
At least one pole was city power, said Public Works Director Tyler Wallace, causing a few outages including First Methodist Minden which temporarily lost power. It was restored by Sunday morning.
Mayor Nick Cox said AT&T sent workers Sunday afternoon to help clean up the damage.
“Broken Bean said their gas meter was pulled, so they don’t even have gas right now,” he added. “It’s a disaster for them. It took out some of their patio furniture and the Free Little Library.”
According to a Facebook post, Broken Bean will not open today.
The chief said the driver was not cited.
“He didn’t do anything wrong,” McIver said. “His wife was in the hospital and he was just trying to get back on the road.”
