MATTHEWS, N.C. -- The power was out to a large portion of Matthews for hours after a truck backed into a utility pole.

Police said the crash Tuesday afternoon caused a transformer to blow. Officers said all the traffic lights along the Highway 51 corridor from Sam Newell Road to at least Providence Road were out for quite some time and officers had to direct traffic, but power was restore to most of the lights shortly before 4 p.m.

School was let out early for students at Covenant Day School and Elizabeth Lane Elementary School because they were without power.

Utility crews said the power is still out in some parts of the town.