Bus causes power outage in Recoleta after crashing into three light posts

SANTIAGO.- A large part of the municipality of Recoleta has been without electricity this morning after a public bus knocked over three street lamp posts as it swerved to miss a parked car.

The accident occurred at 6607 Recoleta Avenue, in front of the entrance to the General Cemetery. The bus was operating on route number 208 Santiago Centro-Huechuraba when the driver, José Marabolí, lost control of the vehicle, slamming into the light posts and then colliding with the gate of a nearby restaurant.

The accident affected the municipality of Recoleta and part of Providencia in the neighborhood of Bellavista due to the fact that one of the fallen posts housed the distribution line that supplies electricity to the El Salto-San Cristobal area.

The bus tore down high and low voltage cables, causing additional problems for television channels and radio stations near San Cristobal hill, which experienced a lapse in transmission lasting approximately 30 seconds.