Scrap Car Snags Utility Lines

McKENZIE (July 27) — A Bordeau-owned semi-truck loaded with crushed automobiles struck an AT&T trunk line while traveling along North Main Street on Monday, downing fiber optic and stranded phone lines and slightly damaging the front left corner of The McKenzie Banner's brick-and-mortar office at the intersection of Banner Row and South Main Street.

One crushed car from the truck snagged on the utility lines and was pulled from the cargo hold, striking the corner of The McKenzie Banner and coming to rest against the building. The accident temporarily disrupted power and heavily damaged the AT&T lines.

Robert Douglas was sitting in the gazebo in downtown McKenzie when he saw the scrap car hit the utility line. He said he heard a sequence of "popping" sounds as the metal collided with the fiber optic and stranded phone lines.

The McKenzie Police Department (MPD) and Carroll County Electric were first on the scene, arriving in minutes. Carroll County Electric crews restored power in the area after approximately 20 minutes and later utilized their trucks to remove the crushed car from the side of The McKenzie Banner.

MPD blocked off a section of Main Street between the intersection of Cedar Street and Bruce Street from the time of the incident until Monday evening, rerouting drivers from the scene.

Tennessee Highway Patrol's Lieutenant Caleb Cooper and troopers Zack Barker, Jason Russell and Samuel Wendorff investigated the incident while the McKenzie Police Department managed traffic and secured the scene. No injuries were reported, and The McKenzie Banner building sustained only minor damage.

Carroll County Electric crews cleared the scene at 2:21 p.m., leaving AT&T personnel to complete repairs. Two AT&T representatives said local AT&T Internet and phone services would likely be down until Tuesday, July 28.