Trolley service was halted for a spell Tuesday after a tow truck driver went through a chain link fence and wound up on trolley tracks in Chula Vista — and a nearby power pole was knocked over during the response effort.
The initial crash was reported around 2:30 a.m. near Oxford Street and Industrial Boulevard on the Blue Line tracks, authorities said.
Chula Vista police said an employee in a Metropolitan Transit System vehicle tried to help move the truck off the tracks and somehow knocked over a nearby electrical pole, downing some electrical wires.
However, a MTS spokesperson said it was the tow truck that ran into the power pole.
“We can confirm that a tow truck ran into a power pole, which fell onto both the northbound and southbound Blue Line tracks, with electrical wire hanging on the caternary system as well,” MTS spokesperson Hector Zermeno. The caternary system uses an overhead wire to supply power to the light rail trains.
Police spokesperson Anthony Molina said a bystander was injured as he tried to help move the tow truck. He was found lying in the parking lot, complaining about back pain, and was transported to a hospital to be checked out.
Officers initially were worried about the risk of electrocution because of the downed power pole until it was determined that wasn’t the cause of the man’s injuries, Molina said.
Zermeno said trolley service was halted on the Blue Line from H Street to San Ysidro in both directions at 4:18 a.m. and restored at 6 a.m. Service was expected to be halted again in the afternoon as repairs were made to the electrical grid, with passengers being moved via a bus bridge between H Street and Palm Avenue stations.
MTS suggested trolley riders check for updates on X, formerly known as Twitter, or on the agency website at sdmts.com or by calling (619) 233-3004.
