Power outage in Chualar after vehicle crashes into pole

Some are still without power this morning in Chualar.

Shortly before 1:00 a.m., Monterey County Regional Fire District personnel were dispatched to simultaneous reports of smoke at multiple residences in the community of Chualar.

Initial reports from panicked residents at nearly a dozen addresses included possible structure fires, odors of smoke and electrical issues.

While Monterey County Regional fire personnel responded to the residences on the south side of the community, a vehicle accident was reported south of Chualar on Foletta Road.

City of Gonzales’ fire chief responded to the call and soon discovered the vehicle accident was the cause of the power issues and subsequent power outage in Chualar. The Gonzales Fire Department reported that the non-injury vehicle accident broke a power pole and brought wires down across Highway 101. Gonzales FD and California Highway Patrol closed both northbound and southbound lanes approximately 30 minutes until PG&E arrived to secure the wires on the highway.

Three fire engines and three chief officers from Monterey County Regional along with a fire engine and fire chief from Gonzales responded to the initial hazardous conditions dispatch and vehicle accident.