A semi-truck slammed into a power pole along Gateway West on Thursday night, cutting electricity to more than 2,000 customers across East El Paso and leaving homes and businesses in the dark while repair crews hustled to fix the damage.
The El Paso Fire Department said the call came in at 7:50 p.m. and confirmed that no patients were taken to local hospitals. The collision damaged a transmission pole, and crews worked through the night to replace it and restore service.
What officials said
The El Paso Police Department said an 18-wheeler was involved in the wreck at 11751 Gateway West and that details remained limited, according to KFOX. The Fire Department told the station the call came in around 7:50 p.m. and that there were no transports to local hospitals.
KFOX also reported that El Paso Electric said its crews were already making repairs, planned to replace the damaged pole, and “expects to restore power at around 10:30 p.m.”
Outage numbers and timeline
El Paso Electric’s outage map showed roughly 2,140 customers without power in the area, according to El Paso Electric. At the time, crews were working to isolate the damaged equipment and make repairs so they could bring service back as safely and quickly as possible.
Why this snarls traffic and service
Gateway West is one of East El Paso’s key commercial and commuter corridors, so a single crash there can ripple through traffic and utilities. Local reporting has documented major traffic delays in El Paso from similar collisions that shut down lanes and knocked out power while crews cleared wreckage and replaced poles, as per Hoodline. That pattern makes even one wreck a major headache for nearby businesses and residents until repairs wrap up.
How to check or report an outage
Customers still without electricity were urged to report outages by phone at (915) 877-3400 and to check Estimated Times of Restoration on the utility’s website and mobile app, according to El Paso Electric. Police asked drivers to avoid the immediate area while workers remained on scene. This story will be updated as officials release more information.
