By Becky Long
Publisher
A single vehicle accident on Myers Chapel Road Tuesday afternoon caused a major power outage for Hayesville along with water leaks, forcing school to close an hour early.
The outage was caused by an accident reported around 12:30 p.m. in which a 2022 Dodge Ram struck a power pole and a fire hydrant.
The driver, Bonner Lee Johnson III, was traveling south toward the golf course on Myers Chapel when he crossed the center line, ran off the road to the left and struck a fire hydrant a nearby power pole, according to a reported filed by N.C. Trooper C.J. Scerri.
The three-phase pole looked splintered in half after the impact, leaving hot wire lines down across a dry field which began to smolder and ignite in spots. Firefighters kept it under control by hosing the area.
Johnson, of Myers Chapel, was driving a Prime Retail Services work truck out of Flowery Branch, Ga. Two other passengers were in the truck. No one was transported for medical treatment from the scene.
Johnson was estimated to be traveling about 30 miles per hour; however, he was cited for left of center, failure to wear seatbelt and failure to put a child in seatbelt.
Blue Ridge Mountain EMC crews arrived shortly after the accident and in most cases power was restored within two hours. Those on Myers Chapel and Chatuge Dam had a longer wait.
Damage to the Blue Ridge Mountain EMC pole is estimated at $15,000. The fire hydrant damage is $5,000, according to the accident report. Damages to the work truck were estimated at $10,000.
Because of the damaged fire hydrant, as of Wednesday morning, the Clay County Water System issued a boil water advisory for customers on the system.