Much of downtown Omaha was without power for several hours Thursday after a garbage truck became stuck in a sinkhole with exposed power lines.
The truck became stuck around 8 a.m. with its nose tipped into a sinkhole and its rear wheels lifted several inches off the ground.
Firefighters said the sinkhole was more than 10 feet deep and exposed numerous power lines when it opened at the entrance to the alley.
AP
City Engineer Austin Lowther told the KETV television station that officials were concerned about the alley and barricaded it to prevent vehicle traffic.
Lowther said the driver of a Waste Management garbage truck moved the barricade to allow it to drive through the alley.
The Nebraska Department of Waste Management disputed that the driver moved the fence.
The company said in a statement that the driver saw a caution sign on the sidewalk as he crossed 16th Street, but there was nothing blocking him from entering the alley, so he drove into the alley.
Waste Management said an internal investigation corroborates the driver's observations and is cooperating with the city's investigation.
Omaha Public Power District and Metropolitan Utility District utilities have shut off electricity and gas to surrounding areas while the situation is assessed.
The Omaha Fire Department said the garbage truck had been removed by early afternoon and power had been restored.
Natural gas service was restored in the area Thursday night.
