Update: As of 10:30 a.m. Friday (Oct. 18), Foothill Expressway near the Arboretum Drive intersection in south Los Altos had reopened to traffic, but those traveling northbound were limited to one lane from where Homestead Road and the expressway meet the Foothill-Arboretum Drive intersection. Lanes may continue to close periodically through the day as PG&E hangs wires. The utility estimates to finish by noon or 1 p.m.
Some south Los Altos residents remained without power Friday morning – a day after the driver of an Acura SUV struck a Foothill Expressway utility pole, snapping the pole and flipping her vehicle onto its roof.
No major injuries were reported, said Sgt. Mike Taylor of the Los Altos Police Department.
An ambulance transported the driver to the hospital as a precaution, Captain Katie Krauss added. What caused her to swerve and strike the pole is currently unknown.
The accident occurred at approximately 2:40 p.m. Thursday on the shoulder of northbound Foothill Expressway just before the Lucky Supermarket in Woodland Plaza. Police officers were forced to stop vehicles traveling in both directions of the expressway in front of the shopping center because the accident brought down power lines and interrupted electricity flowing to area traffic lights. Locations as far away as the Los Altos Police Department in downtown Los Altos temporary lost power. The owners of businesses near the accident could not access their shops due to the potential hazard of live wires.
Between 500 and 4,999 PG&E customers were affected by the accident, according to the utility.
Around 5:45 p.m. Thursday, southbound Foothill Expressway traffic backed up from Woodland Plaza past Springer Road, a distance of more than 2 miles. The police department has encouraged drivers to avoid the area.
“We appreciate people’s patience and understanding,” Krauss said. “It was a rough commute.”
This article will be updated as additional information becomes available. Follow the Town Crier on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news.
