(Le Mars) — A vehicle accident involving an intoxicated driver left several homes on the north-side of Le Mars without power last night. The accident happened on the 100 block of 6th Street northeast at about 8:30 p.m. A pickup truck slammed into an utility pole, snapping off the pole, and creating a domino effect with a second pole also broken off. One of the poles was equipped with an electrical transformer. Power lines were down and hanging on the vehicle. A total of eight residences had lost power due to the accident. Mid-American officials indicate two of the homes had their electric meters pulled from their homes. The driver has been identified as 43 year old Michael Lilly of Le Mars. Lilly had left the scene of the accident. Le Mars Police officers had spotted him a few blocks away from the accident scene, and had placed him under arrest, charging him with an Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Work crews had worked through the evening in an effort to restore power to the neighborhood. City Street Department personnel set up barricades closing the street while utility crews try to fix the power outage problem.
Responding to the accident were the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, the Le Mars Police, Le Mars Public Works Department, and Mid-American electric. The Le Mars Police estimated the damage to the pickup truck at $20,000 and damage to the utility poles, transformer, and electrical lines at $10,000.
