Downed Traffic Light on Hanover Ave. Knocks Out Power

A single driver accident involving a Red Ford van on Friday evening caused power outages and downed a traffic light and multiple wires at the intersection of West Hanover and Koch, where Koch and Ketch Roads meet.

The Morris Township Police Department, Morris Township Fire Department, and Morris Minute Men responded to the accident, which slowed traffic in both directions.

According to Morris Township Fire Department battalion chief Larry Pierce, the driver was heading eastbound when he lost control of his vehicle, hitting and downing a traffic light pole. The accident involved a single vehicle and there were no injuries, said Pierce.

"It created a major mess, but was pretty minor in the grand scheme of things," said Pierce. "A lot of traffic delays."

The driver and the police declined to comment at the scene.

Jersey Central Power & Light Company arrived at approximately 5:45 p.m. and outages were reported in the area.

At the Dean A. Gallo Congregate Living Facility, a nearby senior citizen housing complex, residents reported that power was out in some apartments, but was not in others.

"I just heard the big bang," said Annabelle Cooper, a resident of the facility. "I was sitting on the couch, I thought my neighbor had dropped something on the floor."

Ms. Cooper's power did not go out, but Jim Sima, another resident of the facility, lost power immediately after he heard the crash.

As of 6:30 p.m. on Friday, the fire and police departments were still directing traffic and JCP&L was working to fix the outages.