A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Maple Grove Road in Boise slammed into a power pole on Monday, knocking out electricity to thousands of nearby residents and businesses. Traffic signals went dark along stretches of several major roads as crews scrambled to respond, and drivers were urged to steer clear of the area altogether.
Thousands Lose Power After Pole Is Struck
The crash damaged the pole and triggered a large power outage in the surrounding neighborhood, according to Yahoo News. Idaho Power's outage map initially showed around 3,300 people affected by the blackout, the outlet reported, though the utility later said power had been restored to nearby customers by 4:13 p.m. The Idaho Power outage map lists current outages and estimated restoration times.
Boise Police said the crash involved two vehicles, according to Idaho News 6, and that power was out to a large area surrounding the scene. The station reported that no information on injuries had been released as of its report.
Dark Signals and Detours Across West Boise
With the pole down, traffic signals may have gone dark along Fairview Avenue as well as portions of Ustick, Cole and Maple Grove roads, the same account notes. Drivers were being asked to avoid Fairview Avenue east of Maple Grove Road, per the station's report, as crews worked to clear the scene and begin repairs.
The response drew multiple agencies to the intersection. The Boise Police Department, Boise Fire Department and Ada County Paramedics were all on scene, while Idaho Power crews responded to address the outage, the report states. Motorists were advised to use caution, expect delays and seek alternate routes if possible while the investigation and repairs continued.
The cause of Monday's crash remained under investigation, and no injury details had been released. It is not the first time a vehicle has struck a pole along this stretch of Fairview Avenue — in January 2024, Boise police reported a separate crash in which a driver hit a power pole on Fairview, an incident that Idaho News said knocked out power to 1,027 customers and reduced traffic to one lane in both directions between Maple Grove and Mitchell. During that earlier outage, crews were already on site and power was expected to be restored soon, according to the report, though it is unclear whether the two incidents share any other details beyond the shared location and cause.
