Montvale Avenue Closed After Seven Utility Poles Come Down

STONEHAM, MA — A portion of Montvale Avenue in Stoneham is expected to be closed "for an extended period of time" due to seven utility poles coming down, Stoneham Police announced in a news release Wednesday morning.

Stoneham Police and Fire Departments began receiving dozens of 911 calls at 9:34 a.m. reporting that multiple utility poles had fallen on Montvale Avenue between Lindenwood Road and Maple Street and that a person in a vehicle was trapped by downed wires, police said.

Police added that though the vehicle was not hit by a utility pole, the person inside could not be freed until power was cut to the wires.

No injuries were reported, but Eversource is reporting that 435 customers in the area are without power, and traffic lights at Montvale Avenue and the intersection with Interstate 93 are not working, creating significant traffic issues in the area.

Stoneham Fire Department also sent a hazardous materials team to the scene since two transformers that were on utility poles fell and are now leaking. The state Department of Environmental Protection has been notified, police added.

“We are still investigating exactly what caused all seven utility poles to come down at the same time, but we are sure that Montvale Avenue will be closed in this area for an extended period of time,” Stoneham Police Chief McIntyre said, according to the news release. “We’re asking the public to avoid the area to ease traffic congestion as we respond to this incident.”