By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
The lights flickered a few times on the east side of Orland following a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday vehicle accident, but they never went out completely.
The situation on the west side of town was a different matter altogether, however. Some businesses and many residences were without power for hours.
The Pilot/Flying J Travel Center simply closed up for the night. On the other hand, just across Commerce Lane, the Maverik fueling station stayed open (perhaps thanks to a good generator?).
According to the Orland police log, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, Orland police officers responded to a report of a traffic collision at the intersection of Commerce Lane and Newville Road.
Officers determined that Bryan McClain, 40, of Orland, was driving a white 2003 Ford F250 south on Commerce Lane, failed to stop at the red light at Newville Road, and collided with a 2022 Dodge Amazon van driven by Trisha Crawford, 38.
The F250 continued through the intersection and collided with a PG&E transformer pole. No injuries were reported, and a traffic collision investigation was initiated.
Traffic from the off-ramps of Interstate 5, as well as traffic on Newville Road, had to be stopped and diverted.
And, yes, the new traffic signals at Commerce Lane and Newville Road went dark.
One person on Facebook commented, “Wow! Took longer than I thought it would to have an accident there!”
The Orland Volunteer Fire Department, Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS), PG&E, and AT&T responded to the scene as well.
The Glenn County Observer 