It was a bad day for utility poles in Windward Oahu.

More than 1,300 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers in Hauula lost power yesterday when a vehicle knocked down three utility poles and damaged two others, HECO spokesman Darren Pai said.

The accident occurred at about 4 a.m. and initially knocked out power to 1,375 customers, Pai said. All but 46 regained power by early afternoon.

Hauula resident Kevin Salts awoke when his ceiling fan stopped working and his home lost power.

He began walking along Kamehameha Highway and saw three downed power poles "and several that were leaning pretty good."

Salts had power restored to his house at about 8:20 a.m.

In Kaneohe a sport utility vehicle crashed into a utility pole and fire hydrant on Lulani Street at about 2 p.m.

The crash did not disrupt electrical service.

"I heard a huge bang and then the dogs went berserk," said Harvey Hartenstein, who lives on Lulani Street.

The crash sent up a plume of water from the broken fire hydrant, he said.

Hartenstein ran out to the street and saw the SUV’s occupants return to the scene later.

"They told the police that they were afraid of getting electrocuted," Hartenstein said. "Thank goodness nobody was hurt."