Minor injuries after car hits pole and catches fire

Apr. 29--MANSFIELD -- The driver of a car that crashed into two utility poles and caught fire on Route 44 in Mansfield Monday night received minor injuries.

Mansfield Fire Department Chief Francis Raiola said Tuesday the accident was reported at 9:35 p.m. on Route 44 ( Middle Turnpike) near Codfish Falls Road.

He said the vehicle left the roadway and struck two utility poles, snapping the poles.

" The vehicle did catch fire, but the occupant was able to get out safely prior to that," Raiola said.

He said the driver was transported to Windham Community Memorial Hospital in Willimantic with minor injuries.

Due to privacy restrictions under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Raiola did not identify the driver.

State police spokesperson Trooper Josue Dorelus wrote in an email that a witness on the scene helped the driver out of the vehicle.

He said the driver was found to be at fault for the accident.

Dorelus wrote the cause of the accident had not been determined.

Mansfield firefighters extinguished the fire.

The road was shut down while the utility poles were repaired and the scene was cleared.

Raiola said emergency responders cleared the scene at 10: 30 p. m. that night.

He said the road was closed for a good portion of the night.

Follow Michelle Firestone on Twitter -- @ mfirestonetc.

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