Rollover car crash knocks out power to thousands in Berkeley
The driver reported no injuries. Police said they do not believe impairment was a factor in the solo crash.
A driver who fell asleep at the wheel in Berkeley late Tuesday night crashed into a utility pole, knocking out power to thousands of residents, according to preliminary reports.
As of about 1 a.m. Wednesday, PG&E's outage map showed more than 1,200 Berkeley customers without power, down from the nearly 3,000 who initially lost power due to the crash.
As of publication time, just 200 or so PG&E customers were still without power, according to the outage map.
Read more about traffic safety in Berkeley.
Police said the driver appeared to have fallen asleep and crashed his car at Ashby Avenue and Sacramento Street in central Berkeley, rolling the Toyota on its roof.
The driver reported no injuries and police said they did not believe impairment was a factor.
PG&E responded quickly to make repairs, Berkeley police said.
The Berkeley Fire Department initially called for an extrication response, according to radio traffic reviewed by The Scanner, but arriving police officers found an overturned vehicle with no one inside.
Police also found a live wire that was sparking when they got to the scene.
Berkeley first responders at the scene of a solo car crash at Ashby Avenue and Sacramento Street late Tuesday night. Ariel Nava Photo
The driver, who had been alone in his car, was "out of the vehicle, walking," when BFD arrived.
"We do have a live wire from the high voltage line," a BFD supervisor confirmed over the radio, affirming the need for PG&E to respond.
BPD closed Sacramento Street to eastbound traffic at Ashby Avenue during the emergency response, according to dispatches reviewed by The Scanner.
