NEW ORLEANS — Irish Channel resident Peggy Nead was walking in the 2800 Block of Magazine Street over the weekend when she noticed a problem.
“I saw this obviously severely damaged pole, and it was quite alarming, and I was sort of looking around saying, 'Well is anyone else noticing this?' It seemed like there was no evidence of anybody paying attention to it," Nead said.
Nead said there appeared to be evidence of termites, but after posting a photo of the pole on and Irish Channel Facebook page, she learned they weren't the only culprit.
It turns out that a car wrecked into the pole on Friday, according to witnesses.
Gregory Alpe, manager at the Occasional Wife, walked out of his store Friday to investigate.
“It looked as though a white van had jumped off the curb and simultaneously hit a black Mercedes that was parked in front of the Sake Café, and it hit what looked to be a power pole," Alpe said, “We were surprised it [the pole] did not fall. I thought it was going to fall at that moment.”
Nead was connected to a member of Councilmember Lesli Harris' staff shortly after posting the photo.
Harris' office told WWL Louisiana on Tuesday that the pole is owned by AT&T. AT&T was on scene Tuesday to inspect it, but it was ultimately determined Entergy should replace Wednesday morning due to it being 'an immediate hazard'.
“On a thoroughfare like this, a sudden pole happening to keel over could be catastrophic. There are people walking, there’s traffic," Nead said.
Plus, Alpe said if the pole fell and knocked out the power, it would significantly affect businesses in the area.
“With no power you cannot run the cash register, you can only do cash sales," Alpe said.
Now, the neighborhood is hopeful the repairs will happen before a storm blows through.
“Could potentially have been tragic," Nead said.
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