Dropped phone leads to a power outage in Garden City

Garden City, Kan (WesternKansasNews.Com) – On April 24, 2022, at around 12:20 P.M., Officers of the Garden City Police Department were dispatched to the 1500 block of E. Fulton Street for a hit and run accident.

Upon arrival, Officers observed an electric pole that was sheared off and suspended in the air by electric cables. Witnesses told Officers that a pickup truck hit the pole and fled the scene. With the assistance of the Kansas Highway Patrol, Officers located the driver, identified as Rafael Cruz (71), Garden City, KS. The investigation revealed Cruz was traveling eastbound on Fulton Street. Cruz allegedly dropped his phone on the floor, and as he picked it up, Cruz veered off the road, struck the pole, and left the scene.

Cruz was cited for Duty to Report Accidents and was not injured in the incident. Due to the damage, electricity in the southeast part of Garden City was out for approximately two hours. Traffic was diverted from the area while repairs were made. The estimated damage to the electric pole is around $15,000.00.