Power restored to Grand Rapids traffic signals after crash

Power was restored to about 50 traffic signals Tuesday afternoon after a car hit a utility pole and brought down a power line.

The Grand Rapids Police Department said no one was injured in the crash near Madison Avenue and Hall Street on Nov. 3. Consumers Energy's outage map listed the incident at about 10:50 a.m.

The city said several parks also lost power and streetlights went out across an area stretching from Fuller Avenue and Cedar Street to Eastern Avenue and 28th Street.

Electricity returned to traffic signals, parks and other city property around 1:20 p.m., city officials said.

What must Michigan drivers do at a dark traffic signal?

Michigan drivers must stop when the traffic signal facing them is dark. Under MCL 257.649, stop at a marked stop line. If there isn't one, stop before the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if there's no crosswalk, before entering the intersection.

Drivers must yield to vehicles already in the intersection and approaching cross traffic that would pose an immediate hazard, then proceed with ordinary care. Stopping doesn't give a driver an automatic right to go first.

Where drivers disagree about who stopped or entered first, video footage of the event could be used to establish the sequence. Michigan Legal Center explains how to preserve traffic-camera footage after a Michigan crash.

Get help from Michigan Legal Center

Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates helps people injured in Michigan car crashes with fault disputes and insurance claims.

If you were injured in a crash at an intersection with a dark traffic signal, Contact Michigan Legal Center to discuss your injuries and possible legal options.

There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.