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LEBANON, ME - The Lebanon Rescue Department, York County Sheriff’s Department and Lebanon Fire Department responded to a motor vehicle accident that resulted in a power outage and minor injury on Tuesday night, November 10, 2009. The accident occurred by 443 River Road and was reported around 11:40 p.m.

Lebanon Rescue Captain Alan Therrien and Lieutenant Ryan Therrien live next to where the accident happened and were on scene within a minute of the crash.

“When the rescue officers arrived, they found a 2002 Chevrolet 2500 HD that had crashed into the telephone pole and the pole was lying on top of the truck. The driver was inside the truck and fire was visible under the hood of the vehicle and there were live wires all over the truck and around the truck. She exited the truck and ran into a field next to the truck and then to the rescue personnel. She reported to the police that she possibly had fallen asleep while driving. She is very fortunate that she had her seatbelt on, it appears she would have been seriously injured due to the severe damage to the truck.” Assistant Chief Jason Cole added.

The Milton Fire Department was initially requested to respond when it was reported that the driver was entrapped in the vehicle and it may be on fire.

The wires also started a grass fire on the lawn at 443 River Road. The wires had come down on their wooden fence and started several small fires on the fence and grass area. Firefighters had to wait for Central Maine Power to arrive on scene and cut the power before they could extinguish the fires. The power was cut to the area around 12:35 a.m.

The operator was a 17-year-old female from South Lebanon. She was alone in the vehicle. She was treated on scene for minor injuries and her mom picked her up at the scene.

The 2002 Chevrolet pick-up truck was totaled in the accident and had to be towed from the scene.

“She is a very fortunate person that she had her seatbelt on. She was able to walk away with minor injuries in an accident that could have been much worse.” Assistant Chief Jason Cole added.

River Road was closed for about two hours while Central Maine Power removed the telephone pole from the vehicle. Power is still out to the area and is expected to be out for an extended period of time while Central Maine Power installs a new pole and wires.

Deputy Jason Solomon of the York County Sheriff's Department is investigating the accident.