Truck Snaps Pole; Route 34 Shut Down In Wall, Police Say

WALL, NJ — Route 34 southbound in Wall Township is closed Wednesday afternoon as a repair crew from Jersey Central Power & Light replaces a utility pole that snapped when it was hit by a tractor trailer, police said.

Wall Township Patrolman Shane Roland responded to the report of a downed utility pole on Route 34 south shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Wall Lt. Greg Carpino said. Roland found that Shannon D. Grush, 40, of Lizella, Georgia, was pulling out of the Allied Building Products parking lot at 2065 Route 34, near Ridgewood Road, in a 2012 Kenworth tractor-trailer when he hit the utility pole right near the parking lot. The impact snapped the pole, causing it to lean over the road, Carpino said.

Grush was not injured in the incident, but Carpino said he was issued a motor vehicle summons for careless driving.

South Wall Fire Rescue, the state Department of Transportation and New Jersey State Police all responded to the scene to assist, Carpino said.

Jersey Central Power and Light is at the scene and actively attempting to fix the downed pole, he said. Route 34 south is closed from Allenwood Road to Atlantic Avenue and is expected to be closed for several hours until repairs are completed, Carpino said.

Photo courtesy Wall Township police