UPDATE: Down Power Line Closes Manassas Park City Schools Tuesday

Manassas Park City Schools  were closed on Tuesday after a tractor trailer crashed into a utility pole, taking down a power line and preventing access to Manassas Park Middle and High Schools.

At 4:02 Tuesday morning, a truck hit a pole in the median of Euclid Avenue shutting down both lanes of the road, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) spokesman Mike Curtis said.

The down line prevented access to the bus lot behind Manassas Park Middle School, division Superintendent Dr. Bruce McDade said.

It also prevented safe passage to both the middle and high schools, leaving administrators with no choice but to close all the schools, he added.

The lanes remained closed for much of the day Tuesday because of fears that the low-hanging line would fall and strike a passing vehicle or school bus, NOVEC operation crew members said. 

One lane of traffic on Euclid Avenue opened at 1:30 p.m. as crews finished up their work on the line and the pole. 

NOVEC crews should finish their work Tuesday afternoon, allowing for the possible opening of schools on Wednesday, Curtis said.

While Cougar Elementary and Manassas Park Elementary across town weren't affected by Tuesday's crash, administrators canceled class for the entire school division instead of having class for just some students.

The school division was closed for several days during Superstorm Sandy when power was lost at the lower schools and not at the upper schools.

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