Nov. 4--GUILDERLAND-- A dump truck driver will be ticketed for not lowering his truck's box all the way to the stowed position, allowing it to catch overhead phone and cable lines on Western Avenue, snapping off four wooden utility poles and snarling this morning's rush-hour traffic.

Nobody was injured, police said.

Nearby businesses had communications disrupted for about 30 minutes, a National Grid spokesman said. Replacing the sheared poles will continue into the night.

The driver remained in his truck's cab for 45 minutes, as instructed, to avoid potential electrocution by live, high-voltage wires pulled down and draped over his truck until National Grid shut off power, Capt. Curtis Cox said.

The driver's name was not immediately available, but he will be ticketed for operating a dump truck that was over height, police said.

The accident occurred at 8:50 a.m. at the intersection of Route 20 -- Western Avenue -- and Norman Avenue, near Route 155 and a CVS Pharmacy.

The driver, who works for Carver Construction of Altamont, had dumped a load of soil at a construction site and was pulling out onto Western Avenue when the raised truck box snagged on the lower communication lines.

Norman Avenue and one lane of eastbound traffic on Route 20 were shut down for several hours.

Crews will be on the scene into the night replacing the damaged poles and wires.

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