Tyler crash: Powerlines down, Gentry traffic blocked

Gentry Parkway Closed After Truck Strikes Utility Pole, Hundreds Lose Power

A single-vehicle collision on Gentry Parkway near the Caldwell Zoo on Friday morning, October 31st, 2025, completely shut down the roadway and caused a widespread power outage in Tyler. A truck reportedly struck a utility pole, bringing down power lines across both northbound and southbound lanes.

The incident, which occurred early Friday, prompted the Tyler Police Department to close a significant stretch of Gentry Parkway (located at 1400 E Gentry Pkwy, Tyler, TX 75701) near the popular zoo. Officers were on scene directing traffic and advising commuters to seek alternate routes such as Old Jacksonville Highway or US-69 (also known as US Highway 69). Motorists were encouraged to check updates from the Tyler Police Department's official channels, potentially found at https://www.cityoftyler.org/departments/police or their social media platforms.

Oncor, the primary electric utility, reported an initial outage affecting approximately 300 customers. By an 11:00 a.m. update, this number had slightly decreased to around 295 customers. Oncor crews were dispatched to the scene and were actively working to repair the damaged utility pole and restore power. The utility estimated that repairs would take several hours to complete. Customers can monitor outage status at https://www.oncor.com/outages.

The extensive damage to the utility infrastructure meant that Gentry Parkway was expected to remain closed for a significant portion of the day, creating considerable delays for residents traveling through Tyler.