One witness said that the lines and street lights were shaking so hard she thought they would fall on her car as she was stopped at the light, after a dump truck struck the overhead lines that power Tucson’s streetcar.
Sun Link service was temporarily suspended from 4th Ave and 9th St (West) to Avenida del Convento. Shuttle buses were available to service the temporarily suspended Sun Link route.
No injuries were reported in the accident.
As the ADI reported in 2013, the “modern” streetcar is powered by electricity – 750 volts to be exact strung 19 feet over the cramped streets of downtown Tucson, and prior to it becoming operational, fire officials expressed concern about access to buildings and the people who occupy them.
While their vehicles can move under the lines, their ladders cannot safely come near the lines.
Tucson Fire Department sources say they were not consulted during the $196 million project’s planning stage. They now say they have concerns that their ladders will not be able to be raised for firefighting purposes until the electric system is turned off, costing valuable time when people are stranded in the area’s high rises.
During Tucson’s Monsoon season, questions were raised about the power lines which can be adversely affected by strong winds bringing the wires down and stopping all trains. Powerful storms can also knock the power out with lightning strikes on systems with overhead wires, thereby stopping trains if there is a power surge.
One Tucson fire official said in 2013 that he was dismayed that the city planners had not given consideration to potential rescue services.
At the time, dump trucks were not on the radar.