Hit and Run Causes Transformer Damage, Power Outage on Capital Boulevard

At about 2:45 a.m. on December 28 a vehicle struck a utility pole attached to a transformer on the 1400 block of Capital Boulevard near the Wade Avenue interchange, cutting power to roughly 395 Duke Energy customers in the area. Crews worked on the pole and the transformer at the crash site and restored electricity that morning after responding to the outage.

Duke Energy’s outage map initially estimated restoration by early afternoon, but on-site repairs allowed crews to bring power back sooner for most affected meters. The collision left exposed equipment and required utility personnel to perform repairs before service could be safely restored. Raleigh police say the driver fled the scene in another car after the collision, and investigators continue to pursue leads in the hit and run.

The outage posed immediate challenges for residents and businesses near the interchange. Loss of electricity overnight can affect heating, lighting, traffic signals, and operations for small employers. In addition to the short term inconvenience, damage to pole mounted transformers can create lingering risks if repairs require equipment replacement or pole replacement, and if repairs are delayed during periods of severe weather.

This incident underscores broader public health and equity concerns tied to transportation safety and utility infrastructure. Hit and run collisions remove accountability at the moment when emergency response and timely coordination with utilities are most critical. Power disruptions disproportionately affect people who rely on electricity for medical equipment, those working nonstandard hours, and households with limited resources to adapt when service is interrupted.

Raleigh police are investigating the hit and run and have not released information about a suspect. Duke Energy completed on site repairs and restored service to customers that morning, demonstrating coordinated emergency response between public safety and utility crews. As investigators work to identify the driver, the event raises questions about traffic safety, enforcement and the resilience of utility systems along busy corridors in Wake County.