Photo courtesy of Matthew Broderick

A utility pole is suspended in mid-air after it was snapped from the ground when a waste material truck pulled down power lines at the intersection of East Street and Race Avenue Wednesday afternoon. This photo was taken by Matthew Broderick, a 10th-grader at Plainville High School, when he was walking home from school.

A woman driving on Route 10, known as East Street, in Plainville got a big surprise Wednesday afternoon when a section of an utility pole came crashing down on the hood of her car and then she drove over the pole.

"She was very lucky it didn't go through her windshield," said Sgt. Charles Smedick, head of the Plainville Police Traffic Division.

The incident, which happened at about 1:30 p.m., was caused by a waste material truck, which had just delivered an industrial sized metal waste container to an East Street business. After dropping off the waste bin, according to police, the hoist was not lowered and the truck alarm did not activate. The truck driver traveled north on East Street when the hoist struck electrical wires and power optical lines located at the intersection of Race Avenue and Stillwell Drive.

The impact with the wires broke two utility poles, one at the base and the other up higher. The one that broke at the bottom was being held aloft by wires and did not fall.

The truck driver was confined to the cab of his vehicle until Connecticut Light & Power workers confirmed that the wires on his truck were not energized.

No one was hurt and no charges were filed, according to police. The woman's car was heavily damaged.

Smedick said the accident caused a power outage to area homes and businesses, from Dairy Queen to the Getty gas station on the corner of Whiting Street. Electricity was restored about two hours later.

Route 10 was closed into the evening and private off-duty officers assisted with the traffic detour. The street was reopened after repairs were made.

- Robin Lee Michel

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