Highway 101 shut down in Burlingame due to smashed electrical tower
By Henry K. Lee
Updated 12:13 am, Saturday, August 29, 2015
Photo: Courtesy Of Gina Mellado
A collapsed antenna stands next to a crane near Highway 101 in Burlingame, Calif. on Friday night August 28, 2015.
Highway 101 in Burlingame was closed in both directions on Friday night — causing a traffic nightmare for Giants fans and others — after construction equipment slammed into an electrical tower, knocking live wires onto the freeway, authorities said.
The California Highway Patrol said the freeway would be closed for hours, well into Saturday morning, and that Pacific Gas and Electric Co. needed to bring in special equipment to de-energize the power lines. Motorists reported being stranded for miles.
Also late Friday night, in Oakland, northbound Interstate 880 was shut down south of Fifth Avenue due to a police investigation. As of midnight, there was no estimated time for a reopening of lanes.
The Burlingame incident was reported at 9:30 p.m. when a “third party with heavy equipment impacted an electrical tower” near Highway 101, sending live power lines onto both the northbound and southbound lanes, the CHP and PG&E said.
Photos from the scene showed a large tower crumpled and a crane nearby.
There were reports of several motorists driving over live wires and others getting out of their cars. There was no immediate word on any injuries.
The CHP was diverting traffic off the freeway — including Giants fans leaving a game at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Northbound traffic was being diverted at Anza Boulevard, and southbound traffic was being taken off at Millbrae Avenue. Drivers were advised to avoid the area.
The Burlingame accident caused power to flicker for miles around, including at AT&T Park.
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All lanes of Hwy 101 in Burlingame closed due to downed wires
All lanes of Highway 101 between Millbrae Ave. and Anza Blvd. are closed due to power lines across the highway.
Updated 1 hr 40 mins ago
BURLINGAME, Calif. (KGO) -- All lanes of Highway 101 between Millbrae Avenue and Anza Boulevard are closed due to downed power lines in the area.
Northbound traffic is being diverted to Anza Boulevard and southbound traffic is being diverted to Millbrae Avenue. The CHP in Redwood City says they estimate the northbound direction of Highway 101 will not be reopened until at least 4 a.m.
ABC7 News reporter Sergio Quintana is on the scene and says there is a UPS truck in the northbound direction with a driver stuck inside and power lines on top of the vehicle. In the southbound direction there are eight passenger vehicles with people trapped inside due to power lines on top of their cars as well.
PG&E crews are waiting for special equipment to arrive so they can de-energize the line and render the scene safe.
Some people stuck in traffic are finding ways to entertain each other during a stressful situation.