Semi accident causes power outage in Butler County

A semi accident on U.S. 67 south of the Black River bridge in northern Butler County caused a power outage for 1,700 Ozark Border Electric Cooperative customers at 2 p.m. Sunday.

"The truck ran into a 65-foot pole, knocking out two feeder lines," Ozark Border general manager Stan Estes said.

Ozark Border workers were able to switch power from other lines and had restored electricity to 1,500 customers within 90 minutes, according to Estes.

"It took seven hours to restore power to the remaining 200 customers," Estes said.

The customers live in Pine Cone Estates and other areas near U.S. 67. They had to find other means for providing light in their homes until electricity was restored at 9 p.m.

"We lit our kerosene lantern," Byron Beck said.

Estes explained the power restoration work was delayed due to the amount of time it took to remove the truck from the scene so Ozark Border crews could replace the pole and power lines.

The Missouri Highway Patrol had to stop traffic while the new lines were installed across Highway 67.

The truck driver was not injured, according to Estes.