Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 - Capsule Reports

Power out

Some Portland residents lost power when a Texas semi driver damaged electrical wires near Portland Forge about 9:40 a.m. Thursday.

Terry Hughes, 60, Coldspring, was backing a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia into an alley near Wayne Street. (He told Portland police he realized he was in the wrong area to pickup from Portland Forge, 250 E. Lafayette St.) When Hughes turned right to turn into Portland Forge’s parking lot, the vehicle hit a guide wire, causing it to get stuck on the semitrailer and snap an electric pole.

A portion of the City of Portland lost power because of the accident.

Damage is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000. The semi is registered to Twin Power Freight of Hinsdale, Illinois. 

Flying debris

Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000 after a piece from a semi fell off and struck a Portland woman’s car along Indiana 67 about 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Charles E. Conlee, 56, Caulfield, Missouri, was driving his 2001 Western Star 4900E southwest on the highway when a universal joint broke off the semi, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. The piece struck an oncoming 2014 Nissan Altima driven by 30-year-old Brenna L. Moser of Portland. 

Crystal S. Golder, 44, Redkey, was also driving her 2013 Ford Taurus near the accident when she struck some of the debris, causing her vehicle to get a flat tire.

Hit pole

A Portland man crashed the vehicle he was driving into a light pole on Seventh Street about 10 a.m. Thursday.

Adam Carder, 18, was driving a 1993 GMC Sierra south on Boundary Pike when he noticed a tree branch in the road, according to a Portland police report. He swerved around it and lost control of the truck, causing him to hit a light pole owned by the City of Portland and damage a yard at 124 S. Boundary Pike.

The vehicle Carder was driving was towed. Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.