Car hitting pole cuts power on West End

Published 1:30 am Sunday, April 16, 2017

FORKS — About 3,300 West End customers lost power for about four hours Friday after a vehicle sheared off a power pole along U.S. Highway 101 near Forks, Clallam County Public Utility District and State Patrol officials said.

Sherry Simmons, 61, was driving a 2002 Nissan STR when it left the roadway and struck a power pole near milepost 195 just north of the city at about 11:42 a.m., said Trooper Russ Winger, State Patrol spokesman.

The vehicle came to a rest on its top.

Simmons, who was traveling alone, suffered a minor injury in the wreck and was taken to Olympic Medical Center as a precaution, Winger said.

The State Patrol said there was no indication that drugs or alcohol was involved. A citation is pending, Winger said.

Both State Patrol and Forks Fire Department representatives said they responded to the wreck.

Single-lane, alternating traffic was in effect from 11:56 a.m. to 1:38 p.m., the state Department of Transportation said.

Power was restored to all PUD customers just before 4 p.m., said Michael Howe, district spokesman.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.