WESTPORT — A tractor trailer truck took out a utility pole near 1119 State Road in Westport Tuesday, knocking out power to area businesses and residences for several hours.

When police arrived they found that the pole had been snapped and electrical wires were draped over the truck and onto the roadway.

Both the operator and passenger were instructed to remain in the cab until utility company personnel arrived to determine the status of the power lines.  Once the scene was declared to be safe, both driver and passenger were evaluated at the scene and signed medical waivers.

A preliminary investigation by Officer David Arruda revealed that the operator, Joshua Butler, 44, of Reidsville, Georgia, was operating a 2000 Freightliner onto State Road eastbound.  

As he made the turn, the tractor trailer struck a guy-wire which caused the pole to shift in the ground and snap off at two locations.  The upper portion of the pole, which was still connected to utility lines and cable/telephone lines, came to rest against the truck.  This caused the electrical wires to fall onto the trailer and the roadway.  

As a result of the crash, a section of State Road eastbound was closed for several hours.  There were reported outages to several local businesses and residences.  

Eversource Energy and Verizon Telecommunications arrived to replace the severed pole and restore power to the area, a process that took a few hours.

Westport Police were assisted by the Massachusetts State Police Truck Team.