Marquette residents shelter in place: Moving Van Snags Two Poles, closes complex for two hours
Channel: UpperPeninsulaBreakingNews Greg Peterson
Date: 2016-07-16

Shelter in Place: U.P. Breaking News Exclusive - Moving Van takes down two power poles, dozens of lines, closing down Marquette Apartment complex

By Greg Peterson
News Director, Owner
Upper Peninsula Breaking News
906-273-2433

(Marquette, MI) – Dozens of residents of a Marquette apartment complex late Saturday morning were ordered to shelter in place until power crews could make dozens of lines safe after a moving van took down two major power poles.

The power lines were lower than the normal height because of recent storms – as local residents noted that moving vans often traverse the apartment complex with no problem.

For two hours the Woodview Apartments on Northland Dr. was all but closed down – and power was out. The incident began about 11:25 a.m. and the last fire truck cleared at 1:19 Saturday afternoon.

"We had a moving truck that came in and took a low line down," said Capt. Jeff Green, Marquette City Fire Department. "They did not realize they had hooked a line and pulled it hard enough to actually pull down two power poles."

"They were heading to one of those back apartment complexes," Capt. Green said. "The lines did come down on the truck and we were able to convey to the people inside to make sure they did not move until we were able to kill the power."

"We were keeping people away from the downed lines just to keep everybody safe," Capt. Green said.

"The power company needs to ground the lines that are down on the ground now - and once they do that - then the lines will be safe to handle. Once they do that they will get everything out of the way and place two new poles."

A handful of residents who parked in the first few places were allowed to move their cars and once the lines did not have current the apartment dwellers lined the hills to watch as crews from the Marquette Board of Light and Power cleaned up the mess and replaced the two snapped poles that had pulled down more than a dozen lines that feed the complex.

The accident scene stretched the equivalent of two blocks – as the van was first going downhill – then made a right turn – and then drove up a steeper hill.

The driver of the "Mini-Movers" van – Jesse Messer – and another employeee were in the truck. There were no injuries and the van was not damaged. The only property damage other than to the power poles and lines – was a chained up bicycle that was by one of the crashing poles.

Loyal to the end, the two moving company employees continued moving matresses and other big items into an apartment in Building 1000, while politely answering many questions from a Marquette Police officer.

Officials went to great efforts to make sure no one was injured as the power lines draped several lots and two roads. For example, a Marquette fire official yelled across the complex to one resident not to walk too close to the oil that spilled from the power transformers because she was smoking and the substance spewed across the road was very flamable. 

The area was secured for two hours by the Marquette City Fire Deparrtment, Marquette Police and a couple Board of Light and Power crews.  Marquette Police were to issue a press release on the incident.

Related links and info:


Mini-Movers
MiniMovers
584 S M-553
Gwinn, MI 49841

906-228-6683
www.myprimerelocation.com

1467 W Washington St,
Marquette MI 49855

906-225-9909
www.upminimovers.com 

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Woodview Apartments
200 Northland Dr.
Marquette, MI 49855

http://www.woodviewvillageapartments.com/ 
(906) 226-7642

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Woodview+Village+Apartments/@46.5407125,-87.414041,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4d51df68a477bdf3:0xc49f475af480502f!8m2!3d46.5407125!4d-87.4118523

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Marquette Board of Light and Power
Marquette Board-Light & Power
Electric Utility Company
2200 Wright St.
Marquette, MI 49855

(906) 228-0311
www.mblp.org

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Marquette City Fire Deparrtment
418 S. Third St
Marquette, MI 49855

www.mqtcty.org/fire.php

906-228-0410
Emergency 911
906-228-0413 (fax)
fire@mqtcty.org

Marquette Fire Chief Ian Davis
idavis@mqtcty.org 

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Marquette Police Department
300 W. Baraga Ave
Marquette, MI 49855

www.mqtcty.org/police.php
906-228-0400
Emergency 911
906-228-0446
police@mqtcty.org

Marquette Police Chief R. Blake Rieboldt
rrieboldt@mqtcty.org