Strong Winds Cause Power Outages in Downtown Danville

BAY CITY NEWS

High winds are brought down trees and power lines throughout the Bay Area
Thursday night, blocking roads and causing accidents and several major blackouts.

There were reportedly more than 1,200 outages in downtown Danville, as well as 18,000 in Oakland, more than 4,770 in San Leandro, nearly 1,600 in Castro Valley and 1,400 in Hayward, according to PG&E.

The California Highway Patrol has issued wind advisories for the San Mateo, Benicia and Carquinez bridges and is advising motorists to use
caution.

One tree blocked all northbound lanes of northbound Interstate Highway 238 on the edge of San Leandro after falling on a car at 6:24 p.m., according to the CHP.

Several cars struck the downed tree before the highway was closed by the CHP. It was entirely closed for about an hour before one lane was opened to traffic.

The CHP is also advising motorists to watch out for trees on several Oakland highways, including on Interstate Highway 580 at Fruitvale Avenue as well as near the Central Reservoir and at state Highway 24 near 51st Street.

Another tree came down in the Rockridge area of Oakland in the 5700 block of Keith Avenue near the Broadway exit to Highway 24 and brought power lines down with it, Oakland police said.

Residents in the area were asked to shelter indoors, Lt. Chris Bolton said tonight.

A tree also fell on a car driving on U.S. Highway 101 in Petaluma earlier, blocking traffic and injuring an occupant of the car, the CHP said.

The red Honda was driving north on the highway approaching the East Washington Street offramp when the tree fell on the car, the CHP said.

The accident blocked one lane of the highway and responders called for a chainsaw to get the tree off the Honda, the CHP said.

Initial reports said that one occupant of the car may have suffered a back injury in the crash and an ambulance was called to the scene, the CHP said.

The collision scene also blocked the Lakeville Highway on ramp to Highway 101, the CHP said.

Even BART has reported 10-minute delays along its aboveground tracks because of the continued strong winds.