Driver ticketed for accident that caused State Fair power outage

St. Paul police say they've ticketed a truck driver who clipped a power pole and knocked down a power line near the State Fair Tuesday, injuring two people.

One of the injured, Spencer Jackson, 32, of St. Paul, was hospitalized overnight with injuries he suffered when a power line fell on him as he was sitting in a lawn chair, directing traffic into a parking lot. The other man, Brady Berger, 26, of LeSueur, was also injured by electrical shock when the power line hit him as he stood nearby.

St. Paul police cited driver Trent Wade Johnston for inattentive driving. He'd been making a right turn onto Como Avenue on the south side of the fair when his truck brushed the pole and knocked the power lines loose.

The accident left the southwestern corner of the fair without power from late morning to early afternoon, including the livestock barns. Fair officials said vendors and fairgoers accommodations and the power was restored by 2 p.m.

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