Driver crashes, causes power outage then flees scene

Rawson St in New Brighton. Photo: Google
Rawson St in New Brighton. Photo: Google
A motorist crashed into a pole and caused a power cut in a Christchurch suburb before driving off into the night.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand, police and Orion staff were called to the scene on Rawson St in New Brighton about 7.27pm on Wednesday.

A FENZ spokesman said there was "nobody around" when fire crews arrived.

He said firefighters stayed to isolate the power pole until Orion staff arrived to re-connect the lines.

Said an Orion spokeswoman: "Last night a vehicle collided with a telecommunications pole which hosted power lines to two customers in Rawson St, New Brighton.

"The pole broke at the base, disconnecting power to two households."

She said Orion replaced the damaged pole last night and had restored power by about 1am.

"The incident caused damage to the bargeboard at the power connection to the second customer’s house which will need to be repaired before power can be safely restored."

Orion is on standby to restore the power to the customer as soon as the bargeboard has been repaired.

Police are making enquiries into the crash and who was responsible.