Local

Internet was down across the Tri-Cities. Blame a big vehicle

Downdetector.com showed large parts of Benton and Franklin counties experiencing trouble with their Spectrum internet service on Thursday.
Downdetector.com showed large parts of Benton and Franklin counties experiencing trouble with their Spectrum internet service on Thursday.

Internet and phone service was down in parts of the Tri-Cities for many hours on Thursday after a dump truck hit a fiber-optic line in the morning.

The damage stopped cable, internet and phone service for people and agencies across the region, including the city of West Richland and Benton County Fire District 4.

The agencies told people on Twitter to call 911 if they had an emergency.

Bret Picciolo, the senior director of communications for Charter Communication’s northwest region, wasn’t able to say how many customers lost service.

Charter crews repaired the line by 3 a.m., he said.

Cameron Probert: 509-582-1402; Twitter: @cameroncprobert

This story was originally published September 27, 2018 at 2:31 PM.

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