Electricity Restored After Driver Smashes Pole
[Updated] Some Southampton residents woke up yesterday morning [Aug 4] to discover their power was out, as a car driver had smashed into a pole on Middle Road resulting in the car laying on its side with the pole perched on top of it.
A BELCO spokesperson said, “At approximately 4:50 AM on Sunday, 4th August, BELCO lost service to some 250 customers and received a report from the Fire Service that a car had struck a pole on Middle Road in Southampton.
“Crews were dispatched immediately and arrived onsite in about 15 minutes. They found the utility pole broken in half and called for additional crews, a pole digger vehicle and replacement equipment.
“At the same time, work was undertaken from BELCO Operations Centre to re-route power to as many customers as possible, as well as to de-energise a portion of the system, so that crews could safely undertake repair work.
“Approximately 110 customers remained without power until the vehicle could be removed and repair work completed. Power was restored to all customers at approximately 11:45 AM.”
Update 10.22am: A police spokesperson said, “Around 5am on Sunday, August 4th police officers attended a reported single vehicle damage only collision on Middle Road in Southampton near the junction with Church Road. It appears that a car was being driven along Middle Road when it collided with a utility pole. There were no reported injuries; however both the pole and the car were damaged. Inquiries into this collision are ongoing.”
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Category: Accidents and fires, All, News
With the seemingly ever increasing occurrence and rising damage of single vehicle “accidents” I fear for other traffic on the road with less (motorbikes) or no (cyclist) protection from impacts. Not to mention foot traffic of runners, pedestrians, an equestrians.
It’s only 21²miles, people. Please take your time. I’d like the Department of Statistics to compare the number of road accidents in Bermuda to similarly sized towns (with a similar amount of vehicles) in the US or UK. I’m curious if there really is a higher incidence of accidents compare. It would also be nice to see something along the lines of number of registered vehicles to number of accidents over time (say, last 15 years) so we can see if there is a break from the normal expected increase due simply to more vehicles being on the road.
Bernews, how about it.
Ride
It is somewhat premature to ‘assume’ the driver was speeding……unless you of course know the full facts?? Don’t you think??
Let’s be real, the only traffic that obeys the speed limit are cyclist and equestrians.
I’m “presuming” the driving was speeding based on this, the damage to the pole, and the orientation of the car. More than likely I’d say the speed was in-excess of the mandated limit (even though no one follows that limit as it is not enforce by policing).
Ride
Oh really, are cyclist supposed to ride single file or 2 and 3 abreast.
Lol – trash argument. There is no law that speaks to this they can ride 2, 3 or 5 abreast If they so choose.
F*** I hate you cyclists. You don’t own the road we do, now get the f*** off it. Move to single file you inconsiderate a****!
@E$
What leads you to believe that any one particular class of road user “owns” the road?
There are many types of wheeled vehicles; auxiliary cycles, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, vans, container hauler, horse & buggy, and so on. Many types of intents; commercial, industrial, recreational, private, public, and so on. Foot traffic; runners, walkers, horseback, and so on.
Tell us who you believe “owns” the road and how did that particular group of road user come into that ownership. I’m curious.
Ride
as far as um concerned anything that don’t have a motor is below me when um driving. so if ya in de way you betta get crackin other wise ya gonna be under me.
pedal bikes are de worst. always 2 or 3 deep act like you don’t know um behind you…a****!!
@E$
So the real issue here is your delusion of grandeur. When asked to support your assertion of ownership you arrive with nothing. I would encourage to reconsider your position considering that you yourself have no basis to support it but I have the sneaking suspicion that you indent to be blissfully ignorant no matter how grossly obvious the fiction of your reality presents itself to be.
Ride
You just typed a paragraph of bull$***! What would you like from me? You must be a pedal bike rider. I have a basis…I drive a car/bike daily.
dont hide the facts she was on the road its her fault and stop making excuses
BELCO should charge the cost of the entire operation to the driver of that car!
I agree 100% and to add to that I would like to see public property that is damaged by cars and trucks paid for as well.
The North Shore (like many other areas of Bermuda) is full of spots where walls have been smashed by cars and trucks that have driven thru them. Nobody ever seems to fix these stone walls or railings and it looks like crap driving along that road. If it was on private property the drivers or their insurance company would have to pay. Why is it any different because it is public property?!
You break it you pay, or your insurance if it was an accident! Tired of paying for other peoples screw ups!
How can you be tired of paying for other people’s screw ups when you just said the walls etc don’t get fixed. Hmmm
I agree!
Government should also bill them if they damage the walls, sign poles etc… Why should we have to pay for those things.
I think that’s a bit harsh……anyone can have an accident!
Not harsh at all! That’s why they called it “auto insurance”! If you drive like a moron eventually your insurance premium is going to take a hit when you hit the wall with your vehicle. Safe drivers should be rewarded with lower premiums and drivers with bad driving records are penalized heavily. Charge their insurance with the total cost of this inconvenience such as the Belco & Police costs.
Not harsh at all. The vast majority of “accidents” are caused by poor driving habits: specifically alcohol and/or speeding. The clues in this one are plain to see and show that both were involved (as is so often the case) – the damage caused and the time of the collision. Only an idiot could fail to see this. It is fortunate that no one was seriously injured. However, the driver should be prosecuted (I assume that the police carried out a blood alcohol test) and the insurance should not pay out for the car.
FACUTALLY INCORRECT! GET THE FACTS BEFORE MAKING SUCH GENERALIZED ACCUSATIONS – the driver was NOT under the influence, and was also not speeding.
This was just a very unfortunate case of somebody nodding off at the wheel.
Get a grip…….Haven’t you people got anything better to bleat about??
Of course…….none of you have ever had an accident….HAVE YOU???
Falling asleep at the wheel is not “unfortunate”. It’s negligence. The driver is clearly 100% to blame.
If t was truly just an “accident” then thats life but if it was do to other factors such as drink driving or cell phone use or pure lack of attention then yes, the driver should saddle the cost!
Was he only doing 20 mph?
Would testing of the driver for being ‘under the influence’ be part of the investigation of an accident like this?
It should be Kim Smith! If the Police are not doing that then something is really wrong here!!!
you degenerate people blame speed on everything. Our country is so retarded when it comes to speed limits. These damn roads can have us safely driving 80kph in most areas. Go to any tiny rural road in Canada, UK, etc.. 80kph on roads just like ours with children playing on the side of these such roads. COMMONPLACE.
There are no other words for those ANTI-speed people besides geriatric and degenerate.
Our retarded speed limit was literally set for HORSE AND BUGGY at 22mph because that was THEIR TOP SPEED. the roads back then were not even paved, and were bare sand or rock, and were even more windy and narrow.
WHY HAVEN’T WE GROWN ENOUGH BRAIN CELLS TO REALIZE THIS!
God! Bermuda is sooooooooooooooooooo geriatric in its speed laws. And the people who whine and moan about speeding are pathetic.
Usain Bolt can run faster than you drive your SUV here. Does that tell you anything?
GROW UP BERMUDA!!!!!!!!!!!
Different speed limits for different areas are NEEDED. Take the straightjacket off our citizens and give us our damn human right to MOVE!!!!!!!!
ALCOHOL IS the cause of 99% of ALL accidents on our roads, NOT SPEED. This has been testified to by numerous hospital authorities and others.
BAD driving skills is also to blame, because I am almost killed EVERY DAY at least once by retards who shouldn’t even own a license. People cannot drive in this country and they are so damn impatient. They pull out of driveways without looking on wet roads, they swerve in your lane, they do not indicate, they do not stop. they use phones while driving. etc.etc.etc.
Going 65kph shouldn’t get me some $300 fine and off the road or lose half my points. What a terrible, sad joke this island is. And we are progressive?
Don’t you people realize the vehicles on our roads are DESIGNED to drive at 60mph or more and brake safely from these speeds even on wet roads? WHY do you people panic like little babies who cannot drive when you hear people drive 60kph or whatever? GROW UP!
ARCHAIC more like it!
“BAD driving skills is also to blame, because I am almost killed EVERY DAY at least once by retards who shouldn’t even own a license. People cannot drive in this country and they are so damn impatient. They pull out of driveways without looking on wet roads, they swerve in your lane, they do not indicate, they do not stop. they use phones while driving. etc.etc.etc.”
and you want to let these retards drive at 80kph?? imagine if those same people you complain about pulling out of their driveways on you, do so with you now travelling 30kph more than you currently were? your whole post contradicts itself over and over, and not to mention your execcsive use of caps and exclamation POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is just daft. This is the sort of mentality that a) should not be allowed to drive, b) needs to understand some basic physics and c) spend some time on the road as a tourist/pedestrian/cyclist/runner.
This is the silliest post I’ve ever read. Comparing our roads and driving conditions to Canada where even cow paths are 100% wider and smoother.
The only ‘accidents’ are caused by a medical reason, heart attack etc., or mechanical failure, steering, brake failure etc. Everything else is a crash, human caused & something that could have been avoided if the humans were paying attention to their driving.
Along with checking for DUI, alcohol or drugs, check the drivers cellphone records. Talking on the phone & texting is #1 reason for crashes these days.
the cause of the accident was the fact that I fell asleep. it was 5am. I was exhausted. Yes, looking back, I should have just pulled over and slept. but I can’t go back and change that. Thanks to the fire, police & belco guys for the help. Sorry to get u out so early in the morning. Also, a special thank u to the taxi driver who called the police n the residents that were out giving water to me and the guys fixing things. sorry to all the residents that lost power.
If you fell asleep then you should have took a taxi or got into yah bed yah fool! You inconvenienced many families that day!!!!!!!
Your an azz..The person just gave an apology. Accidents do happen. You must have forgotten how your mom accidently dropped you on your head.
Glad you are OK. Glad no one was injured. To other sleepy drivers, if you feel tired, grab a taxi or just pull over and catch a few zzzz. I work nights, and if I am too exhausted to drive all the way home, I pull over and take a quick snooze. Don’t try to be a superhero and think you can make it, that quick nap may save your life.
To the driver, you don,t have to explain nothing to those don,t no a thing shoot there negative mouths off ppl . Just still glad you are okay. Haven,t forgot wil send that email to you.
give your mom a hug for me. She was so sweet. Thank u so much for the water and support in the wee hours in the morning! Hopefully u weren’t without power for too long
You should not have been behind the wheel.Don’t excuse your lack of judgement. You may have killed someone or yourself. Just grow up and think!
stop writing things like that yu have an idiot mind
@ BDA_Speaks…first of all you’re not speakin’ for all of Bermuda. Second of all you’re an ENABLER!!! With comments like yours and many other’s that I see you reward people for their bad judgment. This is common on this island. Someone murders someone and all of a sudden…”he was such a nice boy…BLAH, BLAH, BLAAAAH!” DO YOU WANT YOUR ISLAND HOME TO SLIP INTO CHAOS!? People NEED to be held accountable for their actions…not handled with COTTON GLOVES!!!! BTW momma jokes just shows to me your mentality. GOD BLESS YOUR MOTHER and tell her to give you a HAAAARD SPANKIN’…YOU NEED IT!!!