Traffic accident on US Hwy 91 knocks out power to north Shelley businesses and residences

SHELLEY:  A Blackfoot man crashed an automobile into an electrical transmission pole along US Highway 91 yesterday evening, cutting power to around 300 homes and businesses in the area for over 12 hours.

Yesterday at about 5:56 p.m., a male driver of the 2017 Subaru Impreza, 29-year-old Dustin R. Leroux of Blackfoot, was traveling southbound. According to the Bingham County accident report, it is believed that he fell asleep at the wheel, crossed multiple travel lanes, and struck an electrical transmission pole before coming to rest adjacent to the railroad embankment. 

Miraculously, Leroux received only minor injuries in the crash, and no other vehicles were involved, the accident report stated.

Leroux was cited for Inattentive Driving under IC 49-1401(3) and released, according to the accident report.

The estimated damage to the power pole is $30,000. Rocky Mountain Power worked through the night to place the severed pole and restore power to the residences and businesses in the northern part of the city. Rocky Mountain Power stated power was restored to the area just before 8 a.m. this morning.

The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Shelley Police, Shelley Fire/EMS, and Idaho Falls Paramedics responded to the accident. The highway was shut down for about half an hour as emergency crews worked at the scene.