Why You Had No Power, TV, or Internet

Hot day? Power's out? Quick, eat all the ice cream in the fridge.

That was one of the few options available to about 1,200 Chatsworth residents when a red Camaro flipped, out of control on Topanga Canyon Boulevard, narrowly missing a fire hydrant, but splintering a critical utility pole.

The Saturday accident, in front of and just south of Old Santa Susana Pass Road, knocked out utilities from about 5 a.m. until 3 p.m. Live power lines, television and Internet cables were strewn across the roadway like spaghetti. Workers were still replacing wires late Saturday night.

"Where's the other car?" Patch reader Jelena Csanyi reported hearing the driver say before being taken away by LAFD ambulance with minor injuries. A police officer at the scene told the Daily News that the driver fell asleep at the wheel.

All that time, the critical access to the 118 Freeway was closed. Bicyclists trying to ride past the scene complained when they were stopped by police because of the downed wires, a witness told Patch.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard reopened at 3:15 p.m.

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