Police: 4-car collision knocks out power to Greenback/San Juan intersection

Sentinel staff report–
Signal lights at the intersection of Greenback Lane and San Juan Avenue in Citrus Heights went completely dark for about six hours on Saturday afternoon after four vehicles collided in the intersection and damaged a critical electrical box controlling the intersection’s signals, police said.

The collision occurred around 4 p.m. Saturday and sent one person to the hospital with minor injuries, according to police. By 5 p.m., traffic had been reduced to single lanes in several directions and police officers were diverting north and southbound traffic on San Juan Avenue away from the intersection. Both directions of Greenback Lane were allowed through the intersection at the direction of officers.

Sgt. Jason Baldwin told The Sentinel that one of the vehicles involved in the collision “ran off the roadway and collided with a signal box, which cut off all power at the intersection.” A white Scion with significant front-end damage could be seen near what appeared to be a heavily damaged control box located several feet back from the roadway near Carl’s Jr.

As of 5:30 p.m., Baldwin said the city’s General Services Division was on scene working on repairs, with lights anticipated to go from dark to flashing in “about five hours.” Police later updated motorists via social media at 10 p.m., stating all lanes had been reopened and signals had been activated to flashing red.

A complete repair on the signals to return them to fully operational status is still underway, police said. Additional details about the cause of the collision were not immediately available.