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Downed power line closes U.S. 24/40

By Staff | Aug 24, 2010

A downed power line across U.S. Highway 24-40 at 206th Street just east of Tonganoxie Friday caused rerouting of traffic for about two hours.

Randy Gilliam, assistant fire chief for Stranger Township, said firefighters were called out about 5 p.m. Friday. He said Westar Energy officials thought lightning caused the downed line, which came to rest across the highway and was live for a time Friday evening.

Gilliam said some vehicles had driven over the line before Stranger Fire, as well as Tonganoxie City Fire Department, Tonganoxie police and Leavenworth County Sheriff’s office officials were on scene.

Westar Energy and Leavenworth-Jefferson Electric officials were called to the scene because both had lines on the poles from which the line had fallen.

Gilliam said safety was a concern, especially with additional storms rolling through the area Friday evening, but he said local agencies kept traffic away from the downed line while crews fixed it.

“Everything turned out great with all four agencies working together,” Gilliam said. “It turned out perfect.”