OMAHA, Neb. – A significant power outage impacted a large section of downtown Omaha for several hours on Thursday after a garbage truck became immobilized in a sinkhole exposing utility lines.
The incident occurred around 8 a.m. when the truck’s front end sank into a hole over 10 feet deep at an alley entrance, lifting its rear wheels off the ground. Firefighters reported that several utility lines were at risk due to the sinkhole.
City Engineer Austin Rowser stated that officials had previously identified concerns about the alley and had erected a barricade to prevent access. It was reported that the driver of the garbage truck bypassed the barricade before driving into the alley.
Local utility companies, including the Omaha Public Power District and the Metropolitan Utilities District, promptly deactivated power and gas services in the area to ensure safety as crews managed the situation.
The Omaha Fire Department confirmed that the garbage truck was removed by early afternoon, and electricity was restored shortly afterward. However, natural gas service remained temporarily suspended while inspections of the utility lines were conducted.
