More than 400 lose power after car crashes into utility pole on Lafayette

More than 400 customers lost power early Monday afternoon after a car crashed into a utility pole on Lafayette Drive, officials said.

The driver was reportedly taken to a medical center to be examined but appeared to have escaped major injuries, officials said.

The crash, which snapped a utility pole at an intersection with Midway Lane, was reported to the Oak Ridge Electric Department at about 1:20 p.m.

The Electric Department reported that 441 customers lost power. Most were in the Woodland neighborhood along the so-called “P” streets and Quincy Avenue.

Workers had to turn off some electrical connections along Rutgers Avenue, including at Walmart and JCPenney, while repairs were made. The Oak Ridge Police Department had to direct traffic through some intersections on South Illinois and Rutgers avenues early Monday afternoon.

The Electric Department said power was restored to most customers by 3 p.m. There were two exceptions: New Life Church of the Nazarene and Y-12 Federal Credit Union. Those two will remain out until repairs are completed, possibly Monday night, officials said.

The ORPD responded to several crashes Monday afternoon, including one near ORNL Federal Credit Union, but there were no reports of serious injuries.