A Monday morning vehicle crash into a power pole knocked St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center off the electrical grid for about two hours but caused no harm at the hospital.
Hospital spokeswoman Jenny King said the hospital lost power at 5:40 a.m. but “went on backup generators and no patient care was disrupted.” She said power was restored at 7:30 a.m.
Ketchum police reported in a news release that the accident occurred just south of the intersection of state Highway 75 and Serenade Lane when a northbound 2002 Silver GMC traveling “at a suspect high rate of speed left the roadway and sheared off a power pole located on the east side of the highway.”
According to the report, the vehicle was found lying on its side and badly damaged but the driver, a 17-year-old whose name was not released, was not injured. However, the accident is being investigated as DUI-related. Police said the boy told them he was returning from a juvenile party and admitted to drinking alcohol. He was taken to St. Luke’s by a deputy for a blood sample that will be sent to the Idaho state crime lab for analysis.
The boy was not arrested nor has he been charged with any crimes. Ketchum police reported that the investigation will remain active until the results of the blood test are received.
Idaho Power Co. and Cox Communications employees worked throughout the day to repair the damage and to clean up oil that leaked from a damaged transformer.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
