Car hits Waialae Ave. utility pole injuring woman; 270 left without power

Honolulu police have reopened Waialae Avenue after a car hit a utility pole Tuesday afternoon, causing a small power outage in Kaimuki. The driver, a 66-year-old woman, sustained serious injuries in the crash.

The one-vehicle accident happened just after 2 p.m. when a car struck a utility pole at Koko Head and Waialae Avenues. Paramedics transported the driver to a hospital in serious condition. 

A Honolulu Fire Department spokesman said firefighters removed a person from the car after a HECO crew confirmed that a transformer and wires, which were hanging on the vehicle, were de-energized and that the vehicle was safe to approach.

The accident touched off a power outage, which left about 270 Hawaiian Electric customers without power. Power was restored to all but 20 customers by 3 p.m., who got their power back by 10 p.m.

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