An accident that damaged several traffic lights on Coshocton Avenue near the Walmart and Knox Village Square intersection will cost the city several thousand dollars to repair.
Meanwhile, crews have used spare parts to restore temporary lights to the area. At press time, police had not yet identified who caused the accident or what kind of vehicle they were driving.
"All I can say is it was a motorist," said Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr. He declined to say more because it would be "commenting on a rumor."
The Mount Vernon News reached out to city police but did not hear back by press time.
The incident occurred late Tuesday afternoon.
"A motorist went through the intersection heading westbound on Coshocton Avenue and caught what's known as the tethering wire," Starr told the News. "It ended up ripping every single light down in that intersection."
Crews from the Street Department were dispatched to make temporary repairs using salvageable parts or units the city had in stock.
Public Works Director Tom Hinkle also went to Columbus to obtain missing parts.
But the city has ordered permanent replacements for the damaged lights that could cost as much as $10,000 or $11,000, Starr said.
He said the new lights' arrival time is not yet known.
This story is developing and updates will be added online as information becomes available.
