Overview
- A utility pole collapsed onto a vehicle on the 300 block of Blake Road North in Hopkins, causing the vehicle to catch fire and killing the person inside.
- Hopkins Police confirmed the fatality and said investigators are on scene but have not released the victim’s name or an official cause for the pole’s collapse.
- Xcel Energy reported that electricity to more than 160 nearby customers was knocked out and that service would not be restored until the following morning.
- A nearby resident told reporters they heard a loud bang, a popping sound and a car alarm before seeing white smoke, information that officials say is part of their ongoing probe.
- Reporting is developing and authorities urged the public to await updates as investigators and the utility continue work at the site and assess damage and safety risks.