SUV strikes utility pole and carport

April 08--TOWANDA TOWNSHIP -- An SUV on Monday traveled off the side of South Main Street in Towanda Township, severed a utility pole and struck a carport, coming to rest partially inside the carport.

There were two women in the vehicle, both of whom were transported to a local hospital, said Chad Benjamin, first lieutenant with the Wysox Volunteer Fire Company.

The state police said the driver of the SUV showed signs of being intoxicated.

The state police have not yet released the names of the driver and her passenger, only saying that they are from Dushore.

The accident occurred at noon in the 900 block of South Main Street, police said.

The vehicle, which was traveling north on South Main Street, went off the east side of the road for an unknown reason, struck the wooden utility pole, and continued north, striking the carport, police said.

Paul Streby, who lives at 917 S. Main St., said the force of the collision with the utility pole sent a seven-foot-long piece of the pole, which was several inches wide, flying through the air. He said the piece of the pole struck the side of his house.

"If it went through a window, it might have killed someone," he said.

The utility pole was over 100 feet from the house, according to fire officials.

The SUV came to rest approximately 150 feet from where it left the roadway, said Gerald Sheets, an assistant chief with the North Towanda Fire Company.

When it struck the carport, the SUV pushed in a 10-foot by 4-foot section of steel siding on the carport.

Streby said he had stored a 22-foot-long fishing boat inside the carport, and did not know yet whether there was any damage to the boat.

Sheets said the SUV was probably totaled.

Streby said he has insurance on the carport and the boat.

The driver of the SUV was transported to Memorial Hospital, police said. Blood tests were done on the driver to detect the presence of alcohol or drugs in her system, state police at Towanda said.

State police said they are now awaiting the results of the blood tests.

"Charges (against the driver) will be pending the blood (test) results," the state police said in a press release that they issued about the accident.

Jody Place, area manager for Penelec, said the collision with the pole knocked out power to two Penelec customers.

A crew from Penelec was at the scene Monday afternoon, Place said. It was expected that the pole would be replaced Monday afternoon and that the customers would have their power restored by 6 p.m. on Monday, she said.

James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or email: [email protected].

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