Dump truck error leaves Old Dover Road powerless

The truck, seen with its lift area down, after the incident. (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - A dump truck driver left a Rochester construction site yesterday without lowering the elevated portion of the vehicle, shearing off about 600 feet of utility lines as he drove down Old Dover Road and leaving homes in the area without power, landline phones and cable.

Police say the dump truck belonged to Lightning Landscape of Pelham, N.H., and Methuen, Mass., was heading southbound and had just left a construction site.

Utility service in the area has been interrupted and will stay down for a significant time. A portion of the road will be closed indefinitely.

Police say Randall Bowden, 35, of Rochester was driving the truck at the time of the accident, but no charges are yet to be field.

Rochester Police and the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement from Troop G will investigate to see just what happened to cause the mishap.