More than 1,200 Los Banos residents were without power after traffic collision

More than 1,200 people were left without power Thursday night in Los Banos after a traffic collision with two vehicles and a telephone pole.

According to Los Banos police Sgt Jesus Parras, officers just before 5 p.m. received reports of a traffic collision involving two vehicles in the intersection of Pacheco Boulevard and Miller Lane.

Parras said investigators learned the driver of a Dodge Journey was traveling west on Pacheco when it ran the red light at the intersection, colliding with a Hyundai Sonata that was turning north on Miller Lane.

The collision caused the Dodge to hit a telephone pole, knocking out power in the area. Both drivers suffered minor injuries.

According to the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. outage map, approximately 1,219 customers were still without power at about 7 p.m. Around 8:30 p.m., PG&E updated the outage map to 134 customers without power.

Parras said neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor in the collision.

A similar accident was reported outside Atwater around the same time.

Accoding to California Highway Patrol spokesperson Eric Zuniga, a crash involving two vehicles and a telephone pole in the area of Sultana Drive and Rose Avenue took place just before 6 pm.

One vehicle was reported on fire but only minor injuries were reported. PG&E reported around 116 people were without power.

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 9:32 PM.