Driver Hurt in Crash Along Route 68 in Durham (Video)

A driver suffered minor injuries in a serious crash involving a car and a construction van at the intersection of Route 68 and Maple Ave. in Durham Thursday evening, according to police.

The crash happened around 5:15 p.m.

"I was actually at my house. I was getting ready to start washing my truck when I hear, wham!," explained Durham Fire Chief Robert Chadd, who lives nearby and was the first emergency responder to arrive on the scene of the accident.

The impact of the crash caused the construction van, which was carrying an equipment trailer in tow, to slam into an electrical pole, heavily damaging it and knocking out power to nearby homes for a brief period.

The car ended up in the front yard of the home at 148 Maple Ave. The home is owned by Lillian White, 94, who said she didn't hear the crash but noticed something was wrong when the power suddenly went out.

Police said the young driver of the car, a female who was not identified, was taken to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in Old Saybrook with unknown injuries. 

The driver of the van, Bill Nuzzo, of Meriden, was not seriously hurt.

"I saw her come out and I started slamming on my brakes and swerving, because I figured she'd realize it and stop, but she never stopped and I slammed into her," Nuzzo said.

According to several witnesses, the driver of the car was traveling south on Maple Ave. and was hit by the van heading west on Route 68.

State Trooper O'Connell said the crash remains under investigation.

The accident caused major backup along Route 68 eastbound for more than an hour during the height of rush hour traffic.

Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) crews were called to the scene because of the damage to the electrical pole, which is owned by Southern New England Telephone Company (SNET).

Eric Peterson, of CL&P, said SNET crews would need about 6 to 10 hours to install a new pole and transfer the lines and transformer. Any subsequent power outages would be limited to a few nearby homes, he said.

Trooper O'Connell said two people were taken to the hospital following an earlier crash at Route 17 and Haddam Quarter Road in Durham. The injuries were minor, he said.