Update, 2:45 p.m.: Highway 9 in Ben Lomond is not expected to reopen until at least 6 p.m. Tuesday, if not later, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A vehicle backed into a power pole early Tuesday, causing a large power outage and closing the road.
Check the CHP traffic page for updates on the road closure. Set "Communications Center" in the upper left to "Monterey" then scroll down to the "Sr 9" incident.
Original story:
A vehicle struck a utility pole on state Highway 9, causing injury, blocking traffic in both directions and leaving more than 3,000 PG&E customers in the San Lorenzo Valley without power Tuesday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
All lanes of traffic on Highway 9 near Ben Lomond have been blocked since the collision was reported to the CHP at 4:33 a.m. The road is not expected to reopen until sometime Tuesday afternoon.
Traffic is being diverted onto Glen Arbor Road, according to the CHP. The earliest ETA to get traffic flowing again on Highway 9 is 2 p.m.
PG&E reported that 3,045 customers in the Ben Lomond area have been without power since 4:37 a.m. as a result of the downed utility pole.
The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that only 2,400 customers lost power. The electricity was restored by 9 a.m.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
