Accident closes East Main

2/6/2008

An extended boom from a truck carrying tires pulled down four utility poles and two street lights on East Main Street in Cobleskill Sunday afternoon, forcing the street to be closed and snarling traffic for about six hours.
Eric Twedt, a driver for McCarthy Tire, made a right turn out of the McCarthy Tire parking lot at 942 East Main Street at about 12:13pm Sunday, said the Cobleskill Village Police. He was driving a boom truck with tires and apparently did not notice that the truck’s loading/unloading boom was extended.
The truck’s boom snagged and pulled an electrical wire hanging across East Main Street near the Super 8 Motel, police said. The wire then broke four utility poles and two street lights on both the north and south sides of the road.
Cobleskill Police were called to the scene and members of the Cobleskill Fire Department and Rescue Squad also responded for live wires arcing on the ground. Members of the Sheriff’s office also assisted with traffic control.
Police said there was a pickup truck traveling west on East Main Street when the accident occurred and that an electrical line fell on the truck, trapping the driver, who was able to exit the vehicle on his own after the power had been shut off.
Work crews from National Grid, Verizon and New York State Electric and Gas all responded to the scene for repairs, police said. East Main Street between Merchant Place and Barnerville Road was closed for about six hours.
The accident is still under investigation and tickets are pending, police said.