Downed power lines from crash close roads
Route 309 and Hartman Road in Montgomery Township were both closed Wednesday afternoon after an accident caused downed power lines at the intersection of the two roads, just outside of a quarry located at that corner.
“It was a vehicle from the quarry that actually caught some of the wires that go across the roadway. Unfortunately, when it caught the wires, it ended up pulling wires down, telephone poles, and traffic standards, the signals, as well,” said Police Chief Scott Bendig.
No one was hurt, but police closed both roads in order to ensure safety and allow crews from PECO, Verizon and contractors working for the township to repair the damage, according to Bendig. The wires that were caught run north-south along Hartman Road, and connect to wires and signals along 309, so both were affected.
“A lot of the ‘give’ was in the intersection, unfortunately,” he said.
As of roughly 5:30 p.m. Wednesday police had no estimate for when the road would reopen, according to Bendig. Both roads were still closed as of 6:30 p.m., according to police and Montgomery County Department of Public Safety dispatches.
“No one was injured, but it’s just a matter of, until we can get the road safely cleared and repaired, it will be closed,” he said.
Route 309 was closed in both directions from Stump Road to Welsh Road (Route 63), and Hartman Road was closed from Welsh to Domorah Drive, as police tried to divert drivers onto Stump and Horsham Road. At the corner of Hartman and Domorah, fire police only allowed local traffic onto Hartman Road to access residents located along Enclave Boulevard, while closing the road to through traffic.
Montgomery Township police, the Fire Department of Montgomery Township, and PECO vehicles could be seen beyond fire police checkpoints and entering and existing the closed portions of the roads. The accident took place at roughly 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Montgomery county Department of Public Safety dispatches.