ESCANABA, MI-- Power was cut to three Escanaba businesses, following a single-vehicle accident on the 2200 block of 1st Avenue North Monday.
Around 3:30 p.m. officers from the Department of Public Safety received a report that a truck had struck a utility pole and the driver was trapped. The pole had snapped and was lying on top of the truck, which was lying on the driver’s side.
Preliminary investigation revealed the truck had been westbound on 1st Avenue when it hit a parked car, careened left, and hit the pole. A witness said the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed.
City electrical workers were called to deactivate the power lines so the driver could be removed from the truck. The driver was able to get out under his own power and declined medical treatment.
The driver—a 23-year-old from Gladstone—was taken to Escanaba Public Safety for a sobriety evaluation. He was subsequently arrested for operating under the influence of drugs.
Power to Wendy’s, Hudson’s, and Elmer’s Restaurants was affected. Officials say the area of 1st Avenue North from North Lincoln Road to North 22nd Street will be closed until all necessary repairs can be made.
