Ameren Illinois Crews Restore Power After Vehicle Collision

Crews replaced a damaged power pole to fix outage affecting 440 customers in Wood River and Roxana.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 4:23pm

A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting with a damaged power pole partially obscured by heavy fog, conveying the overwhelming scale of the natural world and the vulnerability of human-built structures.A damaged power pole stands alone in a misty landscape, a reminder of the fragility of our electrical infrastructure in the face of nature's power.Wood River Today

About 440 customers in Wood River and Roxana, Illinois lost power on Friday evening after a vehicle struck a power pole near Illinois Routes 111 and 143. Ameren Illinois crews had to de-energize the lines to make the area safe before beginning repairs, which included replacing the broken power pole. Power was estimated to be restored by 9:30 PM.

Why it matters

Power outages can significantly disrupt communities, especially in residential and commercial areas. Prompt response and repair by utility crews is critical to minimizing the impact on residents and businesses.

The details

Ameren Illinois crews were called to the scene after a vehicle collision damaged a power pole, causing an outage that affected around 440 customers in the Wood River and Roxana areas. The crews had to first de-energize the power lines to make the area safe before they could begin replacing the broken pole and restoring service.

  • The outage occurred around 5:05 PM on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  • Power was estimated to be restored by 9:30 PM the same evening.

The players

Ameren Illinois

A public utility company that provides electricity and natural gas services to customers in central and southern Illinois.

Brian Bretsch

A public relations manager for Ameren Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“To make the area safe to begin restoring power, crews had to de-energize the power lines.”

— Brian Bretsch, Public Relations Manager, Ameren Illinois

The takeaway

Utility companies like Ameren Illinois play a critical role in quickly responding to and repairing power outages caused by weather, accidents, or other incidents to minimize disruptions to local communities.