Car Strikes PECO Pole, Ignites Fire In Warminster

WARMINSTER, PA —A car crashed into a PECO pole on Newtown Road, bringing down wires and closing the road Thursday morning, fire officials said.

Warminster Fire Marshal Joe Velten said the accident took place around 10:20 a.m. Thursday when a car hit a PECO pole at the intersection of Newtown Road and Anne Lane.

Velten said the crash knocked down the pole, causing high-voltage power lines to spark. He said the car was on fire along with the asphalt.

Watch the video given to Patch by Fred Gamache.

Newtown Road was closed at the intersection as fire crews awaited PECO to arrive to turn off the electricity before the fire could be extinguished to protect the safety of firefighters, Velten said.

The driver was transported to the hospital for minor injuries, he said.

The fire was near six townhomes and the Majestic Oaks Rehabilitation Center, but no evacuations were necessary, Velten said. A nearby day care center sheltered in place for a short time.

He said the fire took between 30-45 minutes to put out.

The Warminster Fire Department, Hartsville Fire Company and the Upper Moreland Fire Department responded to the fire.

(Photo credit by Fred Gamache)