Vehicle Strikes Power Pole at Briarwood, Electric Service Interrupted

(THE POWER POLE DAMAGED WHEN STRUCK BY A VEHICLE THIS MORNING. NOTICE THE TOP OF THE POLE LYING ON THE GROUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POLE)

A vehicle struck a power pole at the entrance to Briarwood Subdivision, briefly interrupting travel on Illinois Routes 32/33 and knocking out electrical service to a large area northwest of Effingham. Service has since been restored.

The crash occurred around 7:30am when the vehicle ran off the roadway. The force of the collision with the guy wire took off the top of the power pole and caused the power lines to fall on the highway. Crews got the lines lifted off and above the highway about 8am and travel resumed on Routes 32/33. Until then, traffic was routed off the highway at Nazarene Church Road to the north and Outer Belt West to the south.

(EFFINGHAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND SHUMWAY FIREFIGHTERS ASSISTED AT THE SCENE, KEEPING MOTORISTS OFF THE DOWNED LINES)

Initial reports from listeners were that electric service was interrupted as far west as Beecher City.

The woman driving the vehicle that struck the power pole was injured and was taken by ambulance to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham.