Downed Power Lines Near Newark Boulevard & Lafayette Avenue, Avoid Area

Update by Bay City News:

Streets in Newark won't be reopened until this afternoon in an area where a garbage truck hit a parked car and brought down live power lines early this morning, a police sergeant said.

The garbage truck hit a parked car near the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Newark Boulevard at about 4:30 a.m., police Sgt. Jolie Macias said.

The crash also brought down a tree, which knocked down live power lines, Macias said.

PG&E spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian said main power lines were unaffected but secondary lines -- going from the main lines to homes in the area -- were knocked down, disrupting power for 10 customers.

Their power is expected to be restored this afternoon, Sarkissian said.

The garbage truck's driver suffered minor injuries and initially declined treatment but was taken to a hospital to be checked out, Macias said.

The truck also leaked fluids onto the street, but its diesel fuel was contained and the fluids were mainly oil, she said.

Streets in the area are expected to reopen at about 3 p.m., Macias said.

Original story: 

Newark Police are asking residents and commuters to avoid the area near Newark Boulevard and Lafayette Avenue until about 8 a.m. this morning while emergency personnel handle the removal of downed power lines.

Newark Police sent out the following Nixle Alert:

AVOID the area of Newark Blvd./Lafayette Ave. for the next 2 hours due to a traffic accident with downed power lines. Both directions of Newark Blvd. are currently shut down while PG&E clears the downed power lines to allow for the removal of multiple damaged vehicles. Newark Police, Alameda County Fire Dept., PG&E and additional personnel are currently working at the scene of this incident.