Collision on Pioneer Trail causes power outage for over 3,500 customers

Two different incidents on the South Shore Sunday night left 3,510 customers without power for about 45 minutes.

At 9:35 p.m., the California Highway Patrol responded to a collision near the intersection of Pioneer Trail and Golden Bear Trail. A 39-year-old South Lake Tahoe resident lost control of his pick-up truck on snow and ice as he headed around a curved in the southbound lane on Pioneer. He veered into a utility pole causing damage to the truck and breaking the pole, but there were no injuries to the driver or his passenger.

According to Ruth Loehr of the Caliornia Highway Patrol in Meyers, alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

At about the same time as the collision, the Meyers substation for Liberty Utilities lost its feeder. Andrew Gregorich, a planner with the power company, said it isn't known if the two incidents were related but it is possible. Power was out from Meyers to about Al Tahoe Blvd and over to Sierra Tract and Highland Woods.

Today, power crews are starting to replace the 50-foot pole on Pioneer Trail.