Car crashes into power poles, knocks out power in Layton for nearly 1K people

LAYTON, Utah (ABC4) — More than 950 people lost power in Layton on Monday after a car reportedly crashed into several power poles. The outage continued for several hours, and some officials said it may last well into the night.

Layton Police first reported that the intersection at Fairfield and Gentile was “shut down due to an accident” around 6:30 p.m. on May 19. The closure impacted 1000 East Gentile to Fairfield, and police advised drivers to avoid the area.

Lt. Travis Lyman with Layton PD told ABC4.com that only one driver and one vehicle were involved in the incident. Lyman said the driver reportedly lost control of their vehicle and crashed into three power poles, causing the power outage in the area.

Lyman said that speed was a factor in the crash, and said the poles that the driver crashed into were “severed.” When first responders arrived at the scene, Lyman said live wires were on the ground.

Lyman said crews with Rocky Mountain Power were on the scene after the crash. As of late Monday night, the power company’s outage map estimated power would be restored by 1:30 a.m. on May 20.

That driver was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. There is no further information at this time.

How to prepare for a power outage

Whether the outage is planned or not, Rocky Mountain Power offers some guidelines and tips to prepare for a power outage.

Safety and preparedness resources have been compiled by Rocky Mountain Power and can be found online.

Some items that Rocky Mountain Power suggests to keep in an emergency kit are listed below:

• Water
  • Have one gallon per person, per day
• Non-perishable food
  • For both people and pets
• First aid kit and essential medications
• Copies of important family documents
• Cash
• Blankets

Rocky Mountain Power’s comprehensive emergency preparedness list is available online.

Abigail Jones contributed to this report.