U. in dark after transformer blows

Area businesses and University buildings lost power yesterday morning when a garbage truck caused severe damage to an electrical transformer at 36th and Walnut streets. Philadelphia Electric Company underground foreman Harold McCay said the truck ran up on the sidewalk and bounced over a modular manhole cover. The cover then collapsed, destroying four 13,000 volt cables below it and starting a fire in the manhole. The damage knocked out power up and down Walnut Street. The manhole was located on the sidewalk adjacent to the Mellon Bank building and the metal grating was not designed to withstand the weight of a heavy truck, McCay said. Palladium restaurant owner Duane Ball was on his way to work when he saw the accident unfold. The incident caused his restaurant to lose its electricity for the entire day and evening. "People were screaming, yelling, and hollering," Ball said. "This garbage truck is really a bitch." Despite the lack of power, the Palladium still operated using candles for lighting. Aside from the Palladium, the Mellon Bank building, Sweeten Alumni Center, the Christian Association, and Penn Hillel building all lost electricity. The History of Art building, along with several fraternities and traffic lights along Walnut Street, between 34th and 37th streets, will be without electricity until this morning, McCay said. Physical Plant electrical engineer Charles Boyle said the original power loss was more extensive, reaching as far as Walnut and 42nd streets. But Electricity was restored to the area past 37th Street by 11:30 a.m. Boyle said power was expected to be fully restored to all areas by late yesterday afternoon, but added that PECO and assisting physical plant crews were delayed. The hardest hit by the power outage were the offices of acting Vice Provost for University Life Valerie Swain-Cade McCoullum and the College of Arts and Sciences, both housed in the Mellon Bank building. McCoullum headed for her office in the Mellon Bank building when the commotion unfolded. She said the building had to be evacuated because of the fire and the power outage. McCoullum said no one was hurt in the incident, adding that she helped in evacuate the building. "Whenever there is a crisis you always worry," McCoullum said. "I personally checked every stairwell to make sure everyone got out safely. Next I moved my computer and all my records out of my office to my house." McCoullum said VPUL offices were moved to other facilities nearby. "I stood outside the door [to the building] and referred students to the relocated VPUL offices," McCoullum said. "Some folks I even counselled on the corner of 36th and Walnut [streets]." As of 6 p.m. yesterday, McCoullum said she was not notified as to whether the Mellon Bank building would be open today. She urged students to call the regular VPUL offices to be directed to the proper locations.