Utility Pole Lacked Hi-Viz Clothing, Police Say
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A wooden utility pole was hit by a car yesterday, Dumb Runner has learned, causing serious damage to the car and prompting police to remind the public of the importance of traffic safety.
The accident occurred around 1:30 p.m., police said, when the 35-foot pole “came out of nowhere” and collided with a 2023 Jeep. The driver remained at the scene, because he was unconscious.
Sgt. Howard Jones, a spokesman for the city police traffic division, said the incident should serve as a reminder to be safe.
“The pole in question was brown—so, basically, invisible,” said Jones. “The driver really had no time to react.”
Reflective vests, neon-colored flags, blinking LEDs, or pulsing strobe lights might have prevented the collision, he added.
“Safety is a shared responsibility,” Jones said. “That’s true whether you’re a utility pole, a plastic flex wand, a mailbox, a piece of public art, an apartment building, or a strip mall.”
Asked whether charges would be filed in the case, Jones said no.
“Believe me, if we could charge a utility pole with negligence, we would,” he said. “Unfortunately, that’s not an option.”
“Yet.”
