Oops: Downed Power Lines Damage Car, Fence



Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve McMillen responded to the intersection ofIvy Bluff Rd. and Jacksboro Trail for a report of power lines down in the roadway on June 20.

While the deputy was taking the report of the downed lines, Josette Grinstead was traveling south on Ivy Bluff Rd. As Grinstead approached the intersection, she was unable to see one of the power lines lying across the roadway, due to the color of the line matching the surface of the road, which caused her car to snag the power line.

Before Grinstead could stop, the power line came in contact with her vehicle, causing damage to the ground effects under the passenger door.

Deputy McMillen also spoke with Jeffery Powell at 6904 Ivy Bluff Rd., who stated he was driving a 13-foot sprayer down Jacksboro Trail, which had broken the power lines.

Prior to that, Deputy McMillen had responded to 6831 Ivy Bluff Rd. on the same incident. He spoke with Chris Miller, who stated that some type of high vehicle had driven down Jacksboro Trail and had torn down some power lines and had also pulled down a light pole at his residence and damaged a barbed wire fence on his property.

While speaking with Miller, Deputy McMillen also observed another light pole in a field adjacent to Miller’s residence that had also been torn down.

Damage to Grinstead’s vehicle was estimated at $300 and to Miller’s fence $100.

• Also on June 20, Deputy McMillen responded to188 Eugene Reed Rd.for a report of a phone line in the roadway which had been torn down by a tractor trailer. While en route to the location the deputy was advised by Cannon County Dispatch that the driver of the truck had to leave, or risk causing another accident due to the location and size of the vehicle. He was advised the truck went to Laid Back Lumber on Highway 53S to make a delivery.

Deputy McMillen went there and made contact with the driver, Christian Wanner, who stated he was traveling south on Eugene Reed and that he had hit a phone line and knocked it down. The deputy observed that the truck was not over the height limit due to it being a box van trailer, with no damage or the cab or trailer.

He then advised Dispatch to contact Comcast, since it was a cable TV line that was damaged, due to it being too low.