MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Police said Thursday afternoon the driver of a garbage truck who snagged power lines and snapped light poles overnight along Main St. in downtown Memphis turned himself in and was cited.
MPD said the driver came to the traffic office and admitted he was driving the truck that hit the lines. He was issued a citation for failure to maintain safe lookout.
MPD said officers responded to the call about 1:20 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in the 500 block of Main St. at G.E. Patterson Ave. Investigators said a driver was northbound on South Main St. when the vehicle snagged several power lines, pulling them down and snapping two light poles in half. They said the driver did not stop and continued north on Main St.
Investigators said an officer on patrol noticed the power lines and light poles down with trash, debris, and glass on the ground.
They said a witness told the officer she was in her apartment when she heard a loud boom, then the sound of lines being dragged down the street. She told investigators she saw a garbage truck sitting in front of the Main St. fire station, then it left northbound on Main St.
The waste truck driver responsible for the incident works for a company called WastePro based in Southaven, Mississippi.
Madelyn Smith is a manager at Feelin' Memphis. She told ABC24 she was aware of what happened before she came to work Thursday morning. Smith said seeing the trash on the street was embarrassing for the City of Memphis.
"The trash still in the street, I was really disheartened about that, that was just not cleaned up, this happened at 1 o'clock this morning. At least pick the trash up," she said.
Smith told ABC24 because of the street closure, tourists were not as interested into walking into the store. She said the damage left behind slowed down business significantly.
"I think they've been a little standoffish, not sure if they can walk down the sidewalk safely, clearly cars are not coming through. I think it slowed business down tremendously today for sure," Smith said.
The destruction also caused a coffee shop next door to Feelin' Memphis to be open for business on Thursday.
Surveillance video obtained by ABC24 shows the garbage truck headed north on South Main St. when the back opens and lifts up and trash begins pouring from the truck into the street. The truck continues down Main until you see lights start flashing in the top corner of the video, when the lines were pulled down. Power lines shake all along Main St. as two MPD cars are then seen driving south around the mess.
MPD said MLGW was contacted for the light poles.
Geno McKnight with Christyles Celebrity Salon said he noticed the aftermath from the truck incident while walking to work. McKnight assumed because of the street closure he would not be able to service his clients at the salon.
"It was a blessing that I didn't have to make my customer wait, I'm grateful that the lights are still on, you know it's unfortunate for the other businesses in the area," McKnight said.
ABC24 reached out to WastePro to comment about the incident, however they declined to comment at the time.
MPD said the driver is scheduled to appear in court November 26th.
The City of Memphis said they will not be able to reopen South Main Street until MLGW crews are finished installing the light poles and power lines. Crews installing those wires said the street should be reopened Thursday evening.
