Slithering Snake Shut Down Traffic Signal By Flipping Breaker In VA

MANASSAS, VA — Traffic in Northern Virginia is always a pain, but add in a big, ol' cranky snake and you have the stuff of nightmares. A snake shut down a traffic signal on Monday morning in Manassas, authorities said.

The Prince William County Police Department reported that the large snake crawled into an electrical panel and flipped a breaker.

A police officer and an animal control officer freed the snake and released it; it was not harmed. The traffic light's electrical panel was not damaged by the slithering intruder.

The power outage occurred at the intersection of Prince William Parkway and Sudley Manor Drive on Monday morning. The police department said the traffic signal lost power for about an hour.

Authorities said the culprit was a black eastern rat snake. Black rat snakes are not venomous, though they can grow up to seven feet long, the National Wildlife Federation said.

Related: 3 Snakes To Know On Your Walks, Jogs And Hikes Around VA

Officials reported that this snake had lived in the electrical panel for some time, as they found molted skin inside the box, according to the Associated Press.

"Crash Investigator Lewton would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists when traffic signals are not working because of a power outage or other problem (snake perhaps) and not displaying any lights, treat the traffic light as a stop sign and use extreme caution before proceeding," the police department said on social media.