Route 86 reopened in Wilmington 6+ hours after car hit pole
Power back on; police say driver suffered minor injuries
A woman fell asleep at the wheel and crashed her car into a utility pole on state Route 86 in Wilmington, knocking the pole across the two-lane road Wednesday morning.
The driver suffered minor injuries, the main thoroughfare was closed for about six-and-a-half hours, and many people were without power for hours as well.
The crash took place around 10 a.m. near the Up a Creek restaurant and store. State Police said Alice Forbes, 70, of Keeseville, east driving northeast when she fell asleep and drifted off the right side of the road, crashing into the pole. She suffered abdominal and back injuries, and the Wilmington rescue service transported her to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh. Police described the injuries as minor.
Forbes works overnight shifts and was on her way home from work at the time, her daughter Crystal Lynn Call posted on the Enterprise Facebook page.
Photos of the scene showed her car, a small crossover SUV, with its front end smashed in and its airbags inflated.
The crash was reported at 10:08 a.m., and State Police closed Route 86 between Fox Farm Road (Essex County Route 63) and the Whiteface Memorial Highway (county Route 431) at Wilmington’s four corners intersection, with detours managed by the the state Department of Transportation. The highway was reopened at 5:45 p.m.
New York State Electric and Gas reported on its website that 92 of its electrical customers were without power. NYSEG initially estimated it would be restored by 12:45 p.m. but later revised that estimate to 2:45 p.m. Power was restored that afternoon.
Police said no tickets were issued.