Berkeley According to authorities, a vehicle on Route 9 was distracted when he struck two utility poles on Friday morning, causing a transformer fire and necessitating a two-hour road closure.
Berkeley Township police say the crash happened at 9:43 a.m. close to 938 Atlantic City Boulevard. When officers arrived, they discovered a transformer on fire, a sparking wire on the ground, and a gold Chevrolet Equinox on the southbound side of the road with significant front-end damage. Approximately 230 feet north of the SUV’s resting place, another damaged utility pole was discovered.
According to investigators, the motorist was heading south when he glanced down at his phone and swerved to avoid rear-ending another car. After hitting a pole, he proceeded along the shoulder for almost 75 feet, then struck another pole before coming to a halt. Bayville First Aid assessed him and found no injuries.
For over two hours, traffic in both directions was rerouted, and neighboring homes and businesses experienced brief power outages. In addition to the Bayville Fire Department, Lacey Township police, state police, and the state Department of Transportation, JCP&L, Verizon, and New Jersey Natural Gas all responded.
Patrolman Christopher Elliott of the Berkeley Township Police Department Traffic Safety Bureau is still investigating the collision.
