Wreck takes out residents' power, but driver uninjured: Police: Man swerved to avoid cat, power restored quickly

First Posted: November 20, 2012 - 9:35 pm
Last Updated: November 20, 2012 - 9:38 pm

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Submitted photo / No one was hurt when this pickup drove off Redding Road north of Seymour, struck a utility pole and rolled onto its side, Indiana State Police say. The driver, Justin A. Prewitt, 27, Seymour, told police her swerved to avoid a cat.

Tribune staff reports

A wreck involving a pickup truck Monday night caused power outages to some homes in Seymour.

The wreck occurred when Justin Prewitt, 27, of Seymour crashed his 2004 Toyota pickup into a Duke Energy utility pole while driving east on Redding Road west of O’Brien Street at about 10 p.m., Indiana State Police Trooper Seth Davidson said.

Prewitt told police he struck the pole after swerving to miss a cat that ran into the roadway. He drove off the south side of the road and struck the utility pole.

The truck rolled, coming to a rest on the driver’s side. The pole snapped and was removed from the ground in the wreck, Davidson said.

Duke workers replaced the pole, returning power to the affected area about an hour after the incident. It was uncertain how many homes and businesses were affected by the power outage.

Prewitt, who was alone in the vehicle, appeared to be uninjured and declined medical treatment, Davidson said. Police do not believe speed was a factor in the wreck.

Redding Road remained closed until about 1:15 a.m. Tuesday while the utility pole was replaced, Davidson said.

Indiana State Police investigated and was assisted at the scene by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and Redding Township Volunteer Fire Department.