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Myers Park road closed after giant tree takes down power poles, lines

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A busy Myers Park road is expected to be closed Wednesday after a massive tree toppled over, taking down power lines and damaging power poles.

[IMAGES: Huge tree topples over in Myers Park]

The tree fell overnight on Bucknell Avenue, just off Selwyn Avenue, and Duke Energy crews do not anticipate the road reopening until Thursday.

Nobody was hurt when the tree fell, but the force damaged two power poles and also dragged down power lines in the area.

Bucknell Avenue is closed between Selwyn Avenue and Hastings Drive.

Power was knocked out to roughly 500 Duke Energy customers in the area, including Myers Park Traditional, but officials told Channel 9 that their priority was getting power restored to the school.

CMS officials told Channel 9 that school will go on and power was restored to the school just after 8 a.m.

Duke Energy crews in bucket trucks have been out in force trying to repair damaged power poles.

One woman told Channel 9 she woke up to the sound of the tree falling. She opened her eyes and saw bright lights.

“Flashes of electricity going in and out,” said Shirley Griffin. “This huge noise, not knowing what it was. Sounded like something exploded.”

Another tree fell later Wednesday morning on Queens Road at Ardsley Road, knocking out traffic lights throughout the area in Myers Park.

And yet another tree fell across a road in south Charlotte overnight, also damaging power lines.

[READ MORE: Charlotte's vital tree canopy in serious danger]

It happened just before midnight on Devon Drive at Willow Oak Road, off Park Road.

Duke Energy crews cleared the road but there was no word on whether the power lines were fully repaired. Duke hoped to have power restored to the entire area by 5 p.m.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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