A massive power outage plunged parts of Murfreesboro along with areas of rural Rutherford and Cannon Counties into darkness during the 10:00 o'clock hour Thursday night (6/4/2015).

Murfreesboro Electric Department's Amy Byers told NewsRadio WGNS, "A lightning arrester failed at the TVA primary substation that feeds Middle Tennessee Electric."

At the peak, Byers noted that 18,000 customers were in the dark.

Equipment failure is believed to be the cause of the widespread blackout.

While power crews were trying to locate and repair the problem, police were challenged with keeping the traffic flowing along dark streets with no traffic signals. In addition, loss of electricity also trips burglar alarm systems and police were following-up on alarm calls throughout the area.

Murfreesboro Police Department's Sergeant Kyle Evans reminded motorists to treat all intersections as 4-way stops anytime there are power outages and the traffic signals are not working.