HARRISON, Ark. -- A big rig took a shortcut behind Harrison City Hall and apparently clipped an electric line, bringing down it and the utility pole supporting it.

The driver of the 2007 Freightliner, James Stewart of Hartville, Mo., said his company, KK&T Inc. of Springfield, sends a truck to deliver merchandise to Harold's Super Service next door to City Hall about twice a month.

Stewart said the driver of the truck always has used the alley to exit. He said, as he made his way down the alley, he was watching his sides to make sure he didn't brush anything when the trailer apparently clipped the line. Because he'd driven the alley before, he didn't know what had happened at first.

"I was surprised," Stewart said.

Police Maj. Sam Martin was in his office at the time. He said the power pole, which was right outside his office, made a lot of noise as it came down and "sounded like the end of the world."

Patsy Herron works at Carter Motor Company, directly across Central Avenue from City Hall. She said, when the electric lines started popping and sparking, it sounded like gunfire and she wondered if a gunman had shown up at the police station.

"I was about to hide under the counter," she said. "I was just shocked."

Police Chief Pat Murphy said the truck also took down the phone lines but that service was restored about 2:45 p.m.

However, City Hall was still without power about 5 p.m. Monday and the regular City Council meeting was going to be moved to the Youth Center at 6 p.m.

To see photos from the scene and read the entire article, click here