Vehicle crash cuts power in Coquitlam

A vehicle crash cut power and closed the Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam, B.C., leaving thousands in the dark on Wednesday morning and forcing buses to detour around the area.

Police say around 12:30 a.m. PT an SUV crashed into a power pole near the intersection of Highway 7 and Dewdney Trunk Road knocking out electricity to about 1,040 customers in the area east of Vancouver.

The Lougheed Highway was reopened to traffic around 7 a.m., but Dewdney Truck Road remained closed and TransLink was rerouting the 143, 151, 152, 169 and 177 bus routes around the outage area.

B.C. Hydro crews estimate the power could be restored by 9:30 a.m.