LATEST: Phone, Broadband Service Interruptions After Accident (Details on Accident)

Consolidated Communications repair crews are still on scene and will be there again overnight tonight to correct damage done when a vehicle struck a Consolidated cabinet containing phone lines for hundreds of customers. Phone, Internet and TV service for much of the south end of town was either slowed or non-functional.

(THIS IS WHAT'S LEFT OF THE CABINET THAT WAS STRUCK TUESDAY AFTERNOON)

Effingham City Police say a vehicle driven by 64-year-old Roger Evans of Effingham was northbound on 4th Street at 10:29am when the crash happened. Police say Evans told them he fell asleep and the vehicle crossed over and off the street, striking the phone cabinet and a power pole.

Evans was not injured. No citations were issued.

(THIS WAS THE SCENE TUESDAY AFTERNOON)

Consolidated repair crews have been working to repair the communication node that was destroyed in the accident, located in the easement on Fourth street at the northeast corner of the Lincoln Land building. 

Consolidated Communications Corporate Manager Sarah Greider said, "Multiple technicians and contracting crews worked throughout the day Wednesday and will continue working overnight and Thursday to repair the damaged cables." The repairs will take some time since not every connection in the cabinet destroyed in the crash was affected. That takes sorting through all of the connections to see where repairs are needed and to make sure each connection is intact.

(THIS PHOTO MIGHT GIVE YOU SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS CREWS ARE UP AGAINST AS THEY GO THROUGH EVERY CONNECTION TO MAKE SURE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED CORRECTLY)

One of the businesses affected is Lifeline Christian Books & Gifts. Call 217-343-2848 during this time and leave a message if you need to get in touch with Lifeline.

Crossroads Bank is asking customers to utilize their Keller Drive location until the repairs are completed by Consolidated as their phones and computers at their South Banker Street location were impacted by the mishap.