WAPA Linemen repairing downed utility pole in Bolongo Bay By. Robert Moore
ST. THOMAS — A vehicle struck a utility pole near the WAPA bowling alley and Line Department in Bolongo Bay early morning Saturday, knocking out power to thousands of residents along Feeder 10B on the south side of the island, extending east.
The accident, which occurred around 3 a.m., toppled the utility pole, bringing down primary and secondary electrical service lines. Power was fully restored to all customers on the Feeder by 6:48 a.m., the Water and Power Authority said.
Though the outage was accidental and outside of WAPA’s control, it marked the fourth straight day that customers somewhere in the territory lost electric utility service. Island-wide outages struck St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John this week.
It was unknown Saturday morning whether the driver or passengers in the vehicle were injured in the major accident. The crash occurred about one-quarter mile east of the new WAPA line department, where the power authority leases a dilapidated bowling alley, cottage and parking lot for $500,000-a-year.
