By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Wednesday, November 7, 1990
The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B01
Two underground electrical explosions shook downtown Dumont Tuesday, injuring a 46-year-old borough woman, cutting off power to more than 1,000 residents, and shutting down several businesses for the day.
Public Service Electric and Gas Co. officials and technicians did not know the cause of the first explosion, which occurred shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday, said Walter Kyle, a PSE & G division operations supervisor. Kyle said he believed the second was caused by current released by the first.
“We know, essentially, that something blew up in the hole here,” Kyle said. “Exactly what, we don’t know. “
Except for the Madison Avenue business district, electricity was restored to much of the affected area about two hours after the explosion, Kyle said.
Amelia Garcia, who was standing behind the Frontier Restaurant and Bar at Park and Madison avenues when the second explosion occurred, was hit by flying debris. She was treated for cuts on both legs at Englewood Hospital and released.
Dumont Police Chief William Groesbeck said there was a similar explosion at the intersection of Madison and Washington avenues two months earlier.
Groesbeck said he urged PSE & G officials to work through the night to correct the problem. Madison Avenue was blocked off between Washington and Railroad avenues to allow the technicians to identify the problem and correct it, he said.
The explosion caused severe traffic delays along Washington Avenue and roads intersecting it.
Caption: (Photo ran alone in 3p) COLOR PHOTO – LINDA RADIN / THE RECORD – Utility workers inspecting the scene of one of two underground explosions that shook downtown Dumont Tuesday, leaving one woman injured and cutting off power to more than 1,000 residents. The blasts also caused traffic tie-ups.
ID: 17322502 | Copyright © 1990, The Record (New Jersey)
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