April 10, 2013
04/11/13 On Tuesday, April 9th at approximately 1:45 P.M. Plymouth Police Officer Mark Owen was dispatched to the area of the 1000 block of North Michigan Street in reference to a semi that had struck a utility pole causing a power outage.
The incident knocked power out to homes and businesses from the intersection of Baker and Michigan Streets to County Auto on the north end of town for nearly an hour.
During the investigation witnesses stated that a semi truck and trailer with ABCO written on the side had attempted to make a left turn from the roadway on the south side of Auto Zone and hit the guide wire for the utility pole of the southeast corner of the Auto Zone parking lot. The semi-trailer clipped the guide wires causing one to flip up over the power lines causing the power outage. The driver failed to stop after the incident.
The Marshall County Dispatch Center searched the company name ABCO and located their office in Florida. After making contact with the company, they indicated that the semi had made a deliver at Bay Valley and was now parked at the Pilot Truck Stop on US 30.
Marshall County Deputy Les McFarland responded to the Pilot Truck Stop where he located the truck and driver. 72 year old, Don Jenkins of Florida admitted to being in the area but had no knowledge of having hitting the guide wires to the utility pole.
Damage to the pole and NIPSCO equipment was estimated to be $1,000 to $2,500. The crash report indicates improper turning as the cause of the incident.
NIPSCO was on the scene A short time later and was able to restore power within the hour.