Groton — Groton Utilities said Monday that it had restored power to most customers impacted by an outage after a truck crashed into a utility pole in the area of Bridge and Thames streets in the city on Sunday evening.

Daniel Bouges, manager of communications and community outreach for Groton Utilities, said a truck had hit a pole, and the tension between the two wires then took down a second pole. There were live power lines in the street.

"Groton Utilities electric crews worked late into the night last night setting new utility poles after a truck took two of them down late Sunday afternoon," Groton Utilities said in a Facebook post after noon on Monday. "They were working to finish the job this morning. If anyone still is having a power issue please call (860) 446-4000."

Bouges said 1,322 customers lost power in the area near Bridge and Thames streets, including Meridian, Mitchell, Broad and Baker streets.

He said power was restored to most customers by 10:52 p.m. Sunday. Crews worked through the night and into Monday morning to string the power lines.

As of 3:30 p.m. Monday, one remaining customer, a business at 19A Thames St. that needs new underground wires, still was without power, he said. Crews were working to resolve the issue.

The loss of commercial power also interrupted internet access for some customers.

Andrew Walton, a spokesperson for Atlantic Broadband, said 394 Atlantic Broadband customers in Groton had their service restored at 10:15 p.m. Sunday once commercial power was restored by Groton Utilities. He added an additional 78 Atlantic Broadband customers in Gales Ferry were affected by damage to fiber facilities on the same poles that serve them. 

"Once Groton Utilities completed its work at the accident site and we could gain safe access, Atlantic Broadband quickly conducted its repairs, and these customers were restored at 9 a.m. this morning," he said by email.

Some people reported internet outages on Monday.

Groton Superintendent Susan Austin said the Connecticut Education Network, which provides internet service to the Groton schools and town offices, was down on Monday due to a cut fiber. Austin said the school community was notified of the outage through the school messenger system and remote learners were advised to do assignments, such as reading, on their own. Students in school remained there.

Austin said several districts and other customers in the region were affected by the fiber issue. She understands that the problem was fixed Monday evening.

Town Manager John Burt said town offices also experienced an internet outage, but service was restored before 5 p.m. Monday.

The accident damaged three Crown Castle Fiber cable spans. Crown Castle crews replaced the damaged cables after Groton Utilities finished its repairs, and service was restored by late Monday, according to Crown Castle Fiber

Groton Utilities Director Ron Gaudet said GU did its best to repair the broken poles as quickly as possible.

k.drelich@theday.com