Utility error blamed for Los Angeles blackout
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-13 07:06

LOS ANGELES - Utility workers connected the wrong wires and caused a blackout across major portions of Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, trapping people in elevators and snarling traffic at intersections, authorities said. AP reported.

Cars are lined up at a inoperative traffic signal at an intersection in the Studio City section of Los Angeles as a power black out interrupted electrical service to many parts of the city September 12, 2005. [AP]

Hundreds of thousands of people were affected by the resulting power surge and outages, which were reported from downtown west to the Pacific Coast and north into the San Fernando Valley.

Several workers who were installing an automated transmission system hooked up the wrong wires, according to Ron Deaton, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

"They connected it to another line that was not expecting that much electricity," he said. No injuries were reported.

Some power was restored within an hour; Deaton said he expected all power to be restored by 5 p.m.

Downtown high-rises went dark, fire officials said they received reports of people stuck in elevators, and stoplights went out at intersections across the city. Neighboring cities, including Burbank and Glendale, also were affected.

The Police Department went on "full tactical alert," meaning no officers were allowed to leave work when their shifts were over.