MONROE — A FedEx semitruck driver tried to take a shortcut and instead caused a flurry of headaches near downtown Monroe on Aug. 5.

Just after 11 a.m., Edward J. Godwaski, 59 of Roscoe, Illinois, was driving his FedEx semi tractor/trailer unit westbound on 7th Street northeast of the square. Godwaski attempted to turn right at the intersection into northbound 21st Avenue toward Monroe Clinic. His trailer caught a low-hanging wire cable from the utility pole on the northeast corner of the intersection.

The high-tension wires jolted one pole after another down the block, like dominoes. Two poles were snapped, while others along a 4-block stretch were tilting. About 9 utility poles scattered in all were damaged. Wires around the scene and even some surrounding blocks ending up on top of trees and houses or laying across the roadway. Service wires (from pole to homes) were also affected in the area and needed repairs.

The streets were closed to traffic on 21st and 22nd avenue from 6th street to 9th street. Power had to be shut off in the area in order to begin cleanup, which was expected to take several hours and was not completed by press time. According to Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley, more than 30 homes were without power — and possibly as many as 60 in the area. 

Monroe Police, Monroe Fire Department, Monroe Streets Department, Green County Sheriff Office, Alliant Energy and other utilities responded to the scene within minutes. The Fire Department took initial control of the scene, and after about 45 minutes had checked on the safety of all persons in the area. No injuries were reported, and no fires had been found. Kelley said crews, including Alliant Energy, would likely need to spend many hours cleaning up the scene.

The incident remains under investigation.