On Sunday April 27, a young man by the name of Stephen Want was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after his car rammed into a power pole. The accident occurred at approximately 4pm, and state Route 76 near Pauma Valley was immediately shut down in both directions. The alleged drunken driver was behind the wheel of a 2003 Cadillac sedan – the vehicle swerved into a telephone pole and plucked it from the ground, pulling the electrical wires with it. When the electrical wires flew down, a small fire lit up, but was easily eliminated without the help of the local firemen; they had not yet arrived. When the Cadillac plowed into the electrical pole on the highway, power was out in 650 houses and businesses in Rincon, Hellhole Canyon, Vally Center, Mesa Grande, Santa Ysabel, Palomar Mountain, Lake Henshaw areas and the La Jolla Indian Reservation. Highway lanes remained closed while San Diego Gas & Electric quickly responded to the loss of power caused by the wreckage. They were able to pinpoint the open electrical path and make the essential reparations. Power was promptly restored to all homes but 6, and those homes had their power restored not long after. As for route 76, lanes going in both directions reopened at about 7pm that evening. Luckily the driver responsible was not injured, but as stated earlier was taken in for suspicion of drunken driving. He was booked into the Vista jail by the California Highway Patrol.
Sources:
“Driver Arrested For DUI After Wreck Closes Highway 76” – San Diego 6