News that may shock Kingstonians

[Davey Boy 2.0]

...and ex-Kingstonians

Mamma Mia! Who turned out the lights?: Pizzeria left in dark after hydro pole crashes into roof

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Businesses at a west-end strip mall were plunged into darkness yesterday after a freak gust of wind pushed over a rotted power pole.

"We were just here doing our normal stuff and all of a sudden we heard this big bang," said Bob Braz, co-owner of Mamma Mia Takeout in the Reddendale Plaza.

The bang, which occurred around 1:30 p.m., was a Hydro One electrical pole crashing onto the roof of the restaurant at the corner of Lakeview Avenue and Front Road.

After the bang, the power went out, dust swirled around the pizzeria and the kitchen's fans started to shake.

Braz said he didn't know what to think.

"I didn't know if a plane had hit the roof," he said.

He rushed outside and ran around the building.

At the back, the power pole that rested against the building had toppled over and cracked in half where it crashed into the roof.

Liquid from the pole's transformers began to leak through the roof and onto the floor at the back of the restaurant.

The pole also tore the gas main Braz uses to cook.

Braz had to throw out all his food and figured he wouldn't be back in business until sometime today at the earliest, when his gas is repaired.

At 3:45 p.m. yesterday, Hydro One brought a new pole on a flatbed truck.

It sat on Front Road in front of the 12-store strip mall while electrical workers prepared to remove the old pole, which was visibly rotted at the base.

Next to Mamma Mia's at the King-ston Naturopathic Center, Dr. Maureen Horne-Paul had to send home all her patients because the gas from the broken main was leaking directly into her business.

The sickly smell of the gas filled her business despite attempts to air the place.

Horne-Paul didn't expect to be back in business until tomorrow because workers would have to move in and out of her centre to fix the broken main.

Tracey Hulme, manager of the Quik Chek variety story, was outside talking to customers when the pole fell.

"The wind picked up like you wouldn't believe and next door the display on wheels started to roll across the parking lot," Hulme said.

The cart is fairly heavy, weighed down with products from the neighbouring flower shop and is well over six feet tall.

Several of the stores facing east had their doors open and they all banged shut at the same time, she said.

"I thought perhaps it was a car accident," said Elaine Hulsmans, owner of The Little Flower.

Part of the plastic awning above her storefront was also ripped out by the powerful gust.

"It was really freaky," Hulsmans said.

[Booche]

That's some pretty heavy doo-doo man.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

I'm very seriously considering changing my name to Bob Braz

[Jaimoe]

I sure hope there wasn't any pizzas injured? What a tragedy.

[dave-O]

OH MY!

How are you coping Davey?