A concrete utility pole struck and uprooted in front one of the city’s busiest convenience stores last Wednesday morning forced the Grenada Police Department to sprint into action, rerouting motorists off a busy section of Commerce Street, creating a detour that lasted for several hours.
Shortly after the incident, which occurred just before 9 a.m., officers began diverting traffic from Commerce Street in front of the large Sprint Mart location onto Oakhurst Drive. Entergy crews responded quickly and remained on scene, working to safely remove and replace the damaged pole, which was partially suspended over the roadway after being struck by a large truck.
While there were no immediate reports of injuries or further collisions as a result of the incident, the obstruction and subsequent detour created delays and confusion for drivers in the area. Commerce Street, a major thoroughfare in Grenada, is often used by commuters and residents accessing Grenada high and middle schools, which are currently closed for summer break as well as local businesses, including Sprint Mart, Sonic Drive-In and a string of businesses located in small shopping centers.
Photo by Adam Prestridge © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
GPD officers Cpl. Kristian Dorrough, left, and Cpl. Javarious Martin rerouted traffic from Commerce Street to Oakhurst Drive for nearly six hours until the pole was replaced.
During the replacement of the utility pole, several of those businesses went without power, halting business until a new pole was set and power restored.
“We are currently without power at Sav-Mor Drugs and Gifts due to the downed light pole at Sprint Mart,” owner Fair Pender Jones posted on Facebook. “We cannot fill or sell any medications until power is restored. I apologize for the inconvenience! We will post once we have power. Thank you for your understanding!”
Several employees and patrons of Sonic Drive-In also posted on social media that the popular fast-food restaurant was without electricity.
In addition to businesses, the red lights at the busy intersection of Commerce and Monroe streets were also affected by the power outage.
Immediately following the incident, authorities urged motorists, especially those operating large trucks such as 18-wheelers, to avoid the area if possible.
The scene was cleared just before 2:30 p.m. after nearly six hours. The incident remains under investigation.
