OMAHA – A large portion of downtown Omaha lost power for several hours Thursday after a garbage truck became stuck in a sinkhole, exposing utility lines.
Around 8 a.m., the truck became stuck in the sinkhole, with its nose tilted down and its rear wheels lifted several inches off the ground. According to firefighters, the sinkhole, which formed at an alley entrance, is more than 10 feet (3 meters) deep and exposed a number of utility lines.
City Engineer Austin Rowser told KETV that officials were concerned about the alley and had erected a barricade to prevent vehicles from driving down it. According to Rowser, the Waste Management trash truck driver moved the barricade so that he could drive through the alley.
Waste Management of Nebraska denied that the driver moved a barrier. According to the company’s statement, the driver saw caution signs on the sidewalk as he crossed 16th Street, but no barriers blocked his path into the alley, so he drove into it.
Waste Management stated that its internal investigation confirms the driver’s observations and that it is cooperating with the city’s investigation.
The Omaha Public Power District and Metropolitan Utilities District turned off electricity and gas service to the surrounding area while the situation was investigated.
The Omaha Fire Department reported that the garbage truck had been removed by early afternoon, and power had been restored. Natural gas service was restored in the area Thursday evening.