© 2024 KRWG
News that Matters.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Power Outage Hits NM; Police Link It To A Fatal Crash

A lightning-caused power outage hit parts of central New Mexico, and police linked its effects to a fatal crash.

Power went out in parts of Albuquerque, Santa Fe and elsewhere Sunday evening.

Santa Fe police say in a news release that a 40-year-old motorcycle rider died when he was hit by a motorist as he was stopped at a flashing traffic signal caused by the outage. They say alcohol was not believed to have been involved.

Public Service Company of New Mexico says the outage began at about 7:40 p.m. when lightning hit a substation.

The company says that at the height of the outage, about 135,000 customers were without power. It says energy was restored everywhere after about three hours.

The Albuquerque Journal reported that the outage snarled traffic due to inoperable stop lights.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.