Choking Driver Crashes Into Utility Poles On Avon-Randolph Line
AVON (CBS) – A driver choking on food said he lost consciousness and crashed near the Avon-Randolph town, bringing down two utility poles and knocking out power in the area.
Police said 55-year-old Dana Walcott of Randolph blacked out after choking and struck one pole on Route 28. He "didn't realize that he had struck a telephone pole until he had hit the second telephone pole, causing significant damage in the area. Took down both of those power lines, transformers and so forth," said Dep. Chief Denis Linehan.
There was a limited number of power outages north of High Street. Police said the outages impacted businesses and a "small number" of residents.
Walcott was charged with driving with a suspended license. He was arrested on a warrant for the same offense out of Quincy.
Police say this is the van responsible for knocking down two utility poles; leaving businesses and residents around Rt 28 along Avon/Randolph border without power. Thankfully, no one was injured. @Wbz #avon #randolph #crash pic.twitter.com/2ugyA9yVdv
— TashaneaWhitlowNews (@TSWHITLOW) February 3, 2020
Jack Elias witnessed the crash. "Lucky nobody got hurt, nobody was on the sidewalk. If someone was at the sidewalk, it could be a lot worse," he said.
The area is expected to be closed until late Monday night while crews repair the damaged poles.
"We're going to have officers on the Randolph side as well as the Avon side helping with diverting traffic around that area, Route 28, but again, we expect that crews are going to be out there for eight-to-10 hours," said Linehan.