Storm knocks out power, traps drivers, commuters in Markham
Warden and Steeles hit; also outage in Thornhill

YorkRegion.com
June 17, 2014
By Bernie O’Neill

The severe storm that swept through York Region through the dinner hour did severe damage to power lines in part of Markham.

Images taken by motorists and passersby show cars and a bus trapped by downed power lines.

PowerStream said up to 20 vehicles had been trapped under power lines.

Drivers and bus riders appeared to have been able to leave the trapped vehicles with power out in the area.

Twelve poles were damaged by high winds and there was one minor injury. Several of the cars appeared damaged with their windows smashed.

About 3,000 customers in the Markham area were without power as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. Power was expected to be restored by 1:30 a.m. A posting on PowerStream's Twitter account said the Warden and 14th avenue area was affected.

South of Steeles Avenue, thousands more customers in Toronto were also without power. As of 11 p.m., the Toronto Hydro power outage map showed more than 5,000 customers without power in the Malvern and Rouge areas of Scarborough with another 1,000 without power in the Port Union area.

Crews needed to free the trapped vehicles, clear trees and repair the lines before power could be restored.

Crews from York Regional Police and Markham Fire were on the scene working to create a safe work zone for hydro workers.

A PowerStream spokesperson said traffic in the area will be impacted into Thursday.

PowerStream was reporting another 1,000 customers in the Bayview and Steeles, Yonge and Clark area of Thornhill were also without power with an estimated restoration time of 11 p.m.