Police investigating overnight serial hit-and-run incidents

The top of a power pole remains suspended by wires on West Fourth and A, after a vehicle Thursday night slammed into the pole and knocked down the base. A new pole will be set sometime today, said Nebraska Public Power District officials. (Lorri Sughroue/McCook Daily Gazette)

The top of a power pole on West Fourth and A is dangling on the wires, the base knocked down by a vehicle Thursday night.

Brian Buhr, operation superintendent at Nebraska Public Power District, said the scene was secured last night and that crews will have a new pole set by the end of the day.

According to preliminary investigations by the McCook Police Department, a red pickup drove into the power pole sometime around 9:41 p.m. with power disrupted briefly to about 350 McCook city residents.

After driving into the power pole, the vehicle then continued up West Fourth, fishtailed onto to B Street and clipped the southwest corner of the Automotive Sale and Service building at 414 West B.

The pickup apparently was followed by another vehicle, observers reported. The pickup then struck a parked vehicle on the 300 block of West Fourth, pushing it up on the lawn. On West Third and D, the driver of the second vehicle reportedly shouted out, "Go!"

The pickup continued until West Third and D when it died. The driver of the second vehicle reportedly then pushed the pickup with his vehicle to get it running. The pickup, now with shredded tires and body damage, regained power and drove off.

The vehicle was later located by McCook Police parked in a garage. Interviews will be conducted today to verify the owner of the car and other suspects.

"Obviously, we have a lot more questions than answers at this point," said McCook Police Chief Ike Brown.