DEMING, Wash. — First responders were dispatched to the 4000 block of Valley Highway (SR9) about 11:45pm, Saturday, March 5th due to a report of a car versus pole crash.
Initial reports from the scene were that a power pole had been sheared off from its base and all lanes of Valley Highway south of Van Zandt were closed.
Whatcom County Fire District 16 Fire Chief Hank Maleng told Whatcom News the driver, the only occupant, was transported from the scene by ambulance to PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Washington State Patrol Trooper Jacob Kennett said driver was arrested for driving under the influence, cited and released at the hospital.
Maleng said Puget Sound Energy (PSE) needed to shut off power to make repairs and PSE reported the outage impacted 785 customer addresses in the same area. Maleng reported power was restored about 8am.
Flaggers were on site directing traffic through a single open lane while repairs continued.