SWAINTON– A crash here on Route 9 at 5:53 p.m. on Friday, Jan 1 caused a power outage affecting between 501 and 1000 customers, according to Atlantic City Electric.
Middle Township Police arrived on scene to find a 1998 green Dodge pick-up truck laying on its driver’s side, on the shoulder of the road.
Immediate requests for Middle Township Fire Company and Rescue Squad, along with AtlanticCare paramedics were made, to respond to the scene.
The driver, Matthew Paschal, 42, of Parkway Drive, in Cape May Court House, was then successfully extricated from his vehicle, by the fire company, and transported to Cape Regional Care hospital for minor injuries.
Crews from Atlantic Electric Company were also called to the scene to replace high voltage power lines, which had been knocked out of service, as a result of the crash.
According to police, Paschal was traveling southbound on Route 9, when he drifted off the roadway, striking two telephone poles, supporting high voltage lines in that area. Paschal’s vehicle went up on its side, after initial impact, ejecting tools from the rear of his truck, across the roadway.
Paschal was charged with driving while intoxicated, Careless Driving and Failure to Maintain Lanes.
Patrolman Steven Novsak is the investigating officer, assisted by Detective Ken Martin, of the Major Crimes Unit.
Middle Township Police are advising motorists to avoid this stretch of roadway, for the next several hours, and any resident that is without power or heat, should contact the police department to make arrangements for temporary shelter/care.
The Middle Township Police Department would also like to credit the quick response of crewmembers from Atlantic Electric, and especially, the Middle Township Fire Company, Rescue Squad and Cape May County Fire Police, who are all volunteer members of the community.
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