NEWMAN – An early afternoon vehicle accident disrupted power to nearly 1,600 customers in the Newman area last Thursday afternoon.

According to Pacific Gas & Electric Company spokesperson Nicole Liebelt, a vehicle struck a power pole at Inyo and M Street shortly before 12:30 p.m.

As crews worked to replace the pole, PG&E rerouted power to restore service to all but about 100 customers within about hour and 15 minutes of the interruption.

Power had been restored by 3:30 p.m. to all but five customers.

Among those affected were businesses in West Side Marketplace Shopping Center.

Those customers, located closest to the affected circuit, were without power until shortly after midnight.