NATCHEZ — The corner of Homochitto and Martin Luther King Jr. streets was the site of two traffic accidents this week that left approximately 45 residents without power for several hours on Tuesday and Thursday.

Entergy Customer Service Manager Tim Runnels said a vehicle struck an Entergy power pole at approximately 6:30 p.m. Tuesday almost knocking the pole completely over and pulling the pole’s transformer bank and power lines to the ground.

Runnels said residents were without power for approximately seven hours while crews replaced the pole, wires and transformer bank. The repairs, Runnels said, cost between $10,000 and $15,000.

A vehicle struck a telephone pole, Runnels said, at the same spot at approximately 10 a.m. Thursday. Runnels said the damages were not as extensive as the ones on Tuesday, but he said the same group of residents lost power for two and a half hours.

Runnels said Entergy had a service drop line on the telephone pole that was connected to a power pole across the street. He said crews were able to push the pole upright and reconnect the line.

Natchez Police Lt. Craig Godbold said he believes no one was injured in the accidents.

Runnels said Entergy has noted an increase in the last few months in the number power poles struck by vehicles in Natchez, especially on Homochitto, Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Catherine streets.

Natchez is currently averaging more accidents involving power poles than any other city in its district, Runnels said, which includes Fayette, Woodville, Liberty and other cities.