Wayward truck leaves trail of broken utility poles

WESTPORT — A northbound box truck took out three utility poles on Old Harbor Road then continued several hundred yards around the corner onto River Road late Friday morning, March 7. The still live wires set fire to one of the poles and surrounding trees as police, fire and electric crews scrambled to the scene.

The truck's driver, Rion Mariscal, 23, of Pawtucket, was transported by Westport Rescue to the hospital. Although the front end of his truck was caved in and the windshield smashed, the driver's injuries did not seem to be serious, a police officer said.

Deputy Police Chief John Gifford said it appeared that the truck struck the northernmost pole, snapping it. The heavy power lines then yanked hard at the next the next two poles to the south, breaking one in two places and splitting the other. Power wasn't knocked out immediately but the deputy chief said the utiltiy company would likely have to shut off power in order to make repairs.

Asked about the distance the truck traveled before finally coming to a stop, the deputy said he did find that surprising.

Mr. Mariscal later told investigators that he was driving on River Road when a vehicle coming the other way passed too close and forced him into the pole. He said he could not stop sooner because he lost his brakes in the crash.

On Monday, Westport Police spokesman Sgt. Jeff Majewski said that Mr. Mariscal will be cited but the investigation is not complete.

A mixture of radiator fluid and oil leaked from the truck but were dammed off before they could flow into the nearby stream.

The investigation had just begun so it is not known what caused the driver to swerve into the pole or whether he faces charges. The truck, a 2005 Isuzu truck owned by Ryder rental and used by Wood Pro Inc. of Warwick, was carrying a load of hardwood flooring.

— Story, photos by Bruce Burdett and Jill Rodrigues

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