SUV Crash Snaps Utility Pole, Causes Power Outage, Traffic Backup

The electric wires that came down on Route 114 on Tuesday night were due to a sport utility vehicle that crashed into an utility pole, according to Peabody police.

The crash occurred at about 6:15 p.m. in front of Maddy’s Car Wash, just east of the Danvers town line. Traffic backed up into Danvers during the evening commute.

One utility pole in front of the car wash snapped off at the top, dropping utility wires down to just a few feet off the road. The next pole to the west, near Outback Steakhouse, also bent down toward the road.

The crash happened when a Ford Escape, driven by Amanda Monteforte, 18, of Boxford, was heading east on Route 114 at the Danvers-Peabody line, said Peabody Police Sgt. Robert Waugh. The SUV left the road and struck the pole.

“That caused the next pole in line to snap,” Waugh said.

Waugh said the teen was the only person in the car.

Monteforte received minor injuries and was taken by Atlantic Ambulance to Lahey North. The crash was under investigation on Tuesday evening and it was not immediately known what caused the vehicle to leave the road, Waugh said. Monteforte did not face any charges.

Immediately after the crash, power was knocked out in the area, including along Route 114 and the neighborhoods off Mt. Pleasant Drive and Felton Street in Peabody, Waugh said.

Danvers police and State Police assisted Peabody officers with traffic control. State Police said they also called the state Department of Transportation for signboards and arrows to direct drivers past the crash scene, where the five-lane road was narrowed down to two travel lanes.

A crew from Peabody Municipal Light Plant responded and was on scene making repairs as of 10 p.m. The road was still down to two lanes at that time, with one lane in each direction.

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