A SUV hit and snapped a utility pole outside 52 River Rd. in Newcastle shortly after 11 a.m.
The driver of the Mitsubishi Montero sustained minor abrasions to her face and knees, but didn’t suffer serious injury, Deputy Mark Bridgham of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said.
The collision has interrupted electricity service to customers in the immediate vicinity while Central Maine Power (CMP) crews replace the pole.
Bridgham cited driver distraction as the likely cause of the accident. The driver was traveling north when she crossed the roadway and hit the pole.
The pole was on fire in the moments after the crash, but the fire quickly died out after the electricity to the pole was shut off, Newcastle Fire Chief Clayton Huntley said.
As of 11:45 a.m., a small stretch of River Road is closed while CMP clears downed power lines.
Officials at the scene expected one lane of traffic to open shortly and remain open while CMP replaces the pole.
