A driver was trapped inside the cab of his truck Thursday afternoon after a power line and utility pole fell directly onto his vehicle along Highway 15-501.
The incident happened just before 1 p.m. near the intersection of Bryant Road, prompting emergency crews to shut down the highway in both directions.
The driver told Moore County News he had just pulled out of a nearby property and was heading north toward Sanford when he noticed a power line smoking. As he slowed down to be cautious, another utility pole suddenly gave way and crashed onto the cab of his truck, trapping him inside.
Emergency responders quickly arrived on scene but were forced to wait nearly 45 minutes for Duke Energy to cut power to the active line before they could safely free the driver.
Remarkably, the driver was not injured in the incident.
As of 6 p.m., utility crews remain on scene working to repair the downed pole and power lines. Highway 15-501 is still reduced to one lane in the area, and drivers are advised to use caution and expect delays.
The cause of the failing power infrastructure is under investigation.
