LYNN — A garbage truck from Hiltz Disposal traveling down Carolyn Road near the Honda lot on the Lynnway snagged overhead utility wires early Monday afternoon, pulling down a utility pole and bringing live electrical lines down onto ten parked cars.
The incident occurred around 11:15 a.m., with employees at Solomon Metal Corp., located across the street, reporting a loud bang as the pole came down.
The Lynn Fire Department (LFD) received multiple emergency calls, with the first call specifically reporting downed wires on Carolyn Road coming in at 11:26 a.m. Firefighters arrived shortly after to assess the situation.
National Grid crews reached the site at noon and began cutting cables by 12:25 p.m. to secure the area.
The fallen wires caused power outages in the surrounding area, including at G/J Carting, further down Carolyn Road, where employees reported a burning smell inside the building. The outages also affected nearby traffic signals.
According to Division Chief Michael McBride, the cause of the burning smell is still under investigation, but it may be linked to the electrical disruption.
“If a three-phase power system loses one of its lines, it can cause electrical motors to malfunction or overheat. That could explain the burning odor reported inside G/J Carting, but we’re still determining if that’s the case,” McBride said. “Right now, we’re not sure if it’s an issue with a circuit or something like a rubber belt burning in an HVAC system. It’s all part of the ongoing investigation.”
Authorities urge drivers and pedestrians to avoid the area until the scene is fully secured.
