Suspected Drunk Driver Slams Into High-Voltage Power Pole In Aurora
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Dozens of families were forced to evacuate after a large pickup truck slammed into a high-voltage power pole in Aurora Sunday morning.
The incident happened at the intersection of Ironton and Havana around 5:30 a.m.
"One policeman, one firefighter, they told me, 'You have to get out of the house,' " neighbor Jimmy Trinh said.
There was concern the pole would come crashing down.
"It's a 230,000-volt transmission line," Jerome Davis with Xcel Energy said. "One of our trucks was here to stabilize it, which it is stabilized right now. We'll have additional equipment come here throughout the day in terms of increasing that stabilization of that pole."
Hours later Trinh and other neighbors were let back into their homes.
The truck involved in the crash was towed away with obvious damage to the front side. Xcel Energy crews were called to the scene.
The driver of the truck was nowhere to be found. Police said he fled from the scene. Neighbors were just glad the pole didn't fall.
"From a safety standpoint, they're okay. There are no issues, there are no concerns. I want them to feel very comfortable about returning back to their residences," Davis said.
Aurora police said the registered owner of the truck, Jonathan Gibson, checked into a hospital just after the time of the accident. The 36-year-old told police he had been carjacked. Officers said Gibson had facial injuries consistent with a crash. Police said he'll face charges, including DUI.
