COLUMBUS, Neb. - A cement truck caught fire after an explosion right by Highway 81 in Columbus on Friday night, causing power to go out in the area.
Sometime around after 11:30 p.m. Friday an explosion occurred in the area of Gehring Construction, located on the 4900 block of Howard Blvd. right off Highway 81.
The explosion caused a cement truck to start on fire and crews were able to put the flames out around 11:45 p.m.
The explosion caused power outages in the area with Westbrook Lanes, Westbrook Apartments, Cubby's gas station, residences in the Crestwood and Westbrook addition and other nearby locations, to lose power.
Loup Power tells NCN that an explosion at Gehring Construction caused the outages, but that has not been confirmed by authorities.
Witnesses at Cubby's said they heard a loud boom and upon going outside they saw the truck on fire.
The truck in flames was next to two other cement trucks, but it is unknown if those trucks received fire damage.
Loose power lines near Gehring were easily visible on scene.
Some customers of Spectrum internet in the Columbus area lost wireless connectivity, it is unknown if it is due to the outage.
This is a developing story, stay with News Channel Nebraska for the latest.
Cement Truck Catches Fire near HWY 81 in Columbus
