March 22, 2026 - Hurst Street in Center was the scene of an incident which resulted in a shutdown of the throroughfare on Sunday, March 21, 2026.
When emergency personnel with the Center Police Department (CPD) first discovered the scene at around 9:43am, utility cables were strewn across the roadway as well as two utility poles that were also broken and laying across the street.
Center Fire Department personnel were called to the scene and they assisted with traffic control, diverting vehicles up Express Blvd.
While the roadway remained clearly blocked by the debris, and emergency vehicles, some drivers persisted in driving past those emergency vehicles and into the scene. This required emergency crews to break away from their focus and instead direct those drivers out of the scene.
SWEPCO responded to the scene and were instrumental in getting the utility poles, and utility lines out of the roadway so that the flow of traffic on Hurst Street could commence its normal flow.
According to the CPD, a truck tractor owned by Walsh Trucking and driven by John Davis Jr., 38, of Troup was hauling oilfield equipment and traveling northbound in the outside traffic lane of Hurst Street. In the 800 block of Hurst Street, the truck struck a utility line connecting two utility poles on either side of Hurst Street. As a result of the collision with the line, both poles snapped in half and generated debris in the roadway.
The truck was part of a wide load crew traveling though Center.
No citations were issued.
Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers Assisted at the scene. Center Police Officers on scene included Sgt. Brian Wright and Officer Luis Acuna.
Several businesses were impacted by the resulting power outage, and SWEPCO crews have been diligently working to address the situation.
