A section of Route 100 in New Gloucester was closed during rush hour.

NEW GLOUCESTER – A tractor-trailer truck entering the northbound lane of Route 100 in Upper Gloucester on Tuesday became ensnared with overhead power lines breaking a pole that caused a widespread power outage for four hours. Traffic was diverted due to the closure of a section of Route 100 at rush hour. The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. causing traffic to be diverted during rush hour.

Truck owner Mark Andrews of Mac Transport of New Gloucester said the truck’s driver, Glen Dowling of New Gloucester, entered Lynn’s Spring Co. from the southerly entrance to schedule work on the truck. As the truck proceeded to leave the business establishment, the driver entered Route 100 from the northern entrance of the business to discover the truck’s cab entangled in overhead wires as he negotiated the turn onto the highway.

The pole broke and a widespread power outage extended through the Upper Gloucester and the Bald Hill Road and along Route 231 to the Lower Village.

Central Maine Power responded to the accident and after four hours of repairs, electricity was restored at 9:15 p.m.

Andrews said the truck’s cab was 13 feet four inches tall and power lines are supposed to be 16 feet above ground. Earlier in the day paving crews contracted to Maine’s Department of Transportation laid a coat of tar along the northerly roadbed, raising it slightly.

Maine State Trooper Ethel Struck of Troop B in Gray said the cause of the incident was uncertain pending further study. No one was injured.

New Gloucester volunteer Fire Department responded to the incident sealing off traffic along Route 100 at the blinker to the Bald Hill Road and Route 231.