Whitesville Road in Toms River closed after driver strikes utility pole, causes outage
(Photo courtesy of the Toms River Police Department)
Whitesville Road in Toms River is closed this morning following a crash that damaged a utility power and resulted in a power outage, police said.
Andre Alexander, 18, of Galloping Hill Lane in Toms River was traveling south on Whitesville Road at 7:11 a.m. in a 2005 Ford Explorer when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole on the roadway, also known as County Route 527, at the intersection of Rivers Edge Drive, said Toms River Police Department Ralph Stocco.
The crash resulted in a severe damage to the utility role, causing extensive damage to the power grid transformers and a subsequent power surge and outages, Stocco said.
The spokesman said crews are on the scene undertaking repairs and that there is no estimated time on power restoration.
Over 1,500 JCP&L customers are without power.
Whitesville Road is closed between Sunset Avenue and Stevens Road. Motorists should use Route 9 to avoid delays, according to Stocco.
Alexander, who was uninjured, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving, Stocco said. Additional charges were filed as a result of the DWI while being under the legal drinking age.
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