A motor-vehicle crash the morning of Tuesday Aug. 1 closed Route 129 in South Bristol to through traffic for about three hours before power was restored. (Johnathan Riley photo)
A stretch of Route 129 in South Bristol was closed for about three hours Tuesday, Aug. 1, after a vehicle went off the southbound side of the road and struck a utility pole around 8:32 a.m.
According to a preliminary report from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, a southbound 2011 Ford E-250 operated by Edgar David Catota Alulema, 25, of Lowell, Mass., struck a utility pole in the vicinity of 476 Route 129, taking down power and telecommunications lines.
Alulema was not injured in the crash, according to LCSO Lt. Brendan Kane.
Five members of the South Bristol Fire Department responded to scene. The Damariscotta Fire Department provided mutual aid, closing the northern end of Route 129 south of the intersection with Route 130.
South Bristol Assistant Fire Chief Alan Spinney said some members of the public appeared to not take the road closure seriously, apparently assuming the closure was related to a culvert replacement project near the Wawenock Country Club.
Spinney said he sympathizes with the traveling public’s frustration, but he urged caution for the safety of emergency responders on the scene.
“I understand it, but we’ll get you there just as soon as we can,” he said.
According to a posting on the Central Maine Power website, 127 customers in South Bristol were without power shortly after the crash.
