Truck Takes Out Pole, Shuts Willow Grove St.

No one was injured when a dump truck hit a utility pole on Willow Grove Street Wednesday morning, but the roadway has been shut down, according to Hackettstown police.

The driver, Robert Yale, 68, of Phillipsburg, veered off the road, striking the pole after avoiding hitting a car in front of him that stopped suddenly, Sgt. Darren Tynan said. 

The road was closed between Bilby Road and Brook Hollow Drive while crews repaired the pole. A HAZMAT team responded to the area due to spilled oil and diesel fuel on the roadway, Tynan said. 

A handful of homes in the area were without power for a few hours, Tynan said. 

The 500-foot stretch of road was re-opened at 4:10 p.m.

Yale was given a summons for careless driving. Assisting at the scene was the Hackettstown Fire Department, Hackettstown Police, Hackettstown Rescue Squad, Warren County Hazmat, Warren County Road Department, JCP&L, Verizon and Comcast.