'Structural issue' to blame for sagging wires on 95

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) -- A National Grid spokesman said it will take some time to figure out what led up to downed power lines on Rt. 95 Thursday afternoon.

Two tractor-trailers hit the sagging power lines shortly after 3 p.m. in Attleboro, causing one driver to be shocked and tying up traffic for hours.

• PHOTOS: Downed Power Lines Force I-95 Closure

While initial reports indicated a vehicle struck a pole, State Police tell Eyewitness News that the lines were sagging across the highway because of a "structural issue on a utility pole set back from the highway" and directed further inquiries to the utility company. 

David Graves from National Grid said the power company was working on getting to the bottom of what happened. However, he said that could be difficult because of the damage to the poles.

He said crews were back at the scene Friday, rebuilding and supporting the poles, and cleaning up debris left behind by the accident.

Two trucks struck those sagging power lines and stopped - one going northbound and one going southbound.  The driver of the northbound truck, 45 year-old Joseph Irorere of Brockton, was shocked when he got out of his truck and is still at Sturdy Memorial Hospital.  The other driver, 55 year-old David Meltz of Prospect Hill, North Carolina, was not hurt.

Police say four other cars were damaged but no other injuries were reported. 

The highway was shut down in both directions for two hours. All lanes were back open by 5:30 p.m.

Repairs to affect traffic Sunday

Lanes of I-95 will be closed periodically Sunday morning, between 5:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., MassDOT later said Friday, in order for National Grid's crews and trucks to repair and reinstall the power lines that were taken down.