Police Chief Edward J. Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw report that the Taunton Police and Fire Departments responded to a manhole explosion earlier today.
The road from East Broadway Street to St. Mary’s Square had been shut down out of an abundance of caution while crews worked. One lane has since been reopened while Taunton Municipal Light Plant remains on-scene conducting repairs to an electrical line.
At approximately 11:20 a.m., Taunton Police and Fire responded to the area of Broadway and Church St. after a Taunton Police officer working a road detail reported a manhole explosion.
Taunton Municipal Light Plant responded to disconnect electrical service to the scene as well.
The cause of the explosion was due to an electrical line that was hit by a road crew working in the area. The damaged electrical line resulted in a fire in the nearest Taunton Municipal Light Plant manhole, and the pressure released from the fire blew one manhole cover off.
A worker who was inside the hole at the time of the fire was able to escape without sustaining injury. No other injuries were reported.
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