Fallen Tree Blocks Copperas Cove Street, Damages Power Lines During Rain

A tree came down on power lines during Wednesday morning's rain, blocking eastbound lanes in the 400 block of W. Avenue B in Copperas Cove right as rush hour began. The Copperas Cove Police Department reported the blockage and asked motorists to avoid the area and find alternate routes while utility and public works crews worked to clear the downed tree and assess potential damage to the power lines. No injuries were reported, and no estimated reopening time was immediately available.

The timing compounded the disruption. Copperas Cove police flagged the closure going into the morning commute, with the eastbound lanes through that block fully inaccessible as crews responded. Drivers heading east on W. Avenue B were urged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time until the roadway reopened.

Wednesday's incident was part of a wider stretch of storm-related damage across the region. According to Oncor, the electricity provider, 8,200 customers lost power across Killeen, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove at 10:30 p.m. Monday as severe weather swept through the area. Ofelia Miramontez, spokeswoman for the Killeen Police Department, described what officers found while patrolling during Monday night's storm: "downed power lines, fallen fences, and debris — including trees, trash cans, and trampolines scattered across the roadways." She added that officers worked to clear hazards where possible and that no injuries were reported from those encounters either.

Storm damage from earlier in the week reached into Bell County as well, with a large tree splitting in two on Melissa Court in Salado and blocking access to the end of that residential street. A separate tree was damaged on Bowles Drive in west Killeen. National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Bishop said no tornadoes were confirmed in the area and that the agency was not continuing a tornado investigation.

Rain was still falling across Central Texas as the W. Avenue B closure remained in effect Wednesday morning, with crews on scene and no clear timeline for when the block would reopen to traffic.