Downed Power Lines Cut Power & Close Down Pouncey Tract Road

Residents of the Wyndham community were startled Monday evening by the sound of two loud explosions, followed by a bright blue light that lit up the night sky. Power lines subsequently fell across Pouncey Tract Road at Old Wyndham Drive. Up to 10,000 residents were momentarily without power as far away as Gayton and Church […]

July 6, 2009; 11:54 PM • by Trevor Dickerson

Residents of the Wyndham community were startled Monday evening by the sound of two loud explosions, followed by a bright blue light that lit up the night sky. Power lines subsequently fell across Pouncey Tract Road at Old Wyndham Drive. Up to 10,000 residents were momentarily without power as far away as Gayton and Church Roads.

While power was restored to Wyndham and surrounding neighborhoods within three minutes via automatic power rerouting, homes and businesses on Pouncey Tract north of the downed wires remained in the dark for at least an hour after they fell, including the town of Hylas one mile to the north. The crossroads of Route 623 and Pouncey Tract was without power for most of the late evening.

Wyndham resident Chris Miller was driving by when the lines ignited and described the scene. “I heard a huge explosion and saw several bright flashes of light,” Miller said. “The [electricity] went out, it came back on, then went out again. [The  light] was so bright it looked like you were looking straight into the sun.”

Henrico Fire crews arrived on scene within five minutes of the explosion and blocked off both north and southbound lanes of Pouncey Tract, fearing the lines could still be live.

No injuries were reported and no vehicles appeared to have been involved. There’s no word on what brought the lines down or whether a malfunctioning power transformer was to blame, often the source of such explosions.

Just under 1,000 customers were reported to still be without power at press time, just before midnight, according to Dominion Virginia Power. Pouncey Tract Road was also still closed, but should be open before the morning commute.

July 6, 2009 11:54 PM 0