CAR WRECK RESULTS IN POWER CUT

CAPE GIRARDEAU - About 300 residents who live on Perryville Road probably missed the better part of "60 Minutes" or their favorite 6-7 p.m. television show Sunday evening.

Cape Girardeau Police said a hit-and-run driver struck a utility pole at 1913 Perryville Road at about 5:50 p.m., causing the pole guy wire to snap back into the energized power lines.

A.D. Cox, spokesman for Union Electric said the short circuit in the lines caused a circuit breaker at the company's Glenwood substation, on Route W, to open, cutting off power to about 300 UE customers along Perryville Road, south from Hanover Lutheran Church.

Cox said it took about 50 minutes to call in an off-duty technician to reset the breaker and restore the power at about 6:40 p.m.

Police said the power outage set off several private security alarms in the Perryville Road area.

Officers said an investigation into the incident is under way. No description of the vehicle was available.