A suspected drunken driver slammed into a power pole, snapping it, at a Menifee intersection, triggering a power outage and requiring repairs that were ongoing Friday.
The crash happened shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday at La Piedra and Murrieta roads, according to the Menifee Police Department.
Agency spokesman Chase Coburn said that the driver of a sedan lost control and veered off of Murrieta, plowing into the utility pole south of the intersection.
“The vehicle severely damaged the pole,” Coburn said. “Southern California Edison arrived at 11:30 p.m. to assess the damage.”
He said technicians determined it would take nearly all of Friday to replace the utility support and restore electricity. In the meantime, an undetermined number of residents and businesses were without service. SCE reported the outage was expected to end by 3:30 p.m.
Coburn said patrol officers questioned the motorist and detected “symptoms of intoxication.”
The man, whose identity was not disclosed, was taken to a regional trauma center for treatment of injuries to his face, which were not life-threatening.
There was no word on whether the driver had been arrested as of Friday morning, or whether he was still undergoing treatment. The investigation was continuing.
All of Murrieta Road was closed to traffic at the repair site.