Ansonia police said a Shelton motorist hit a fire hydrant, several vehicles and a utility pole Monday afternoon, causing an hours-long power outage in the city’s west side and north end.
Police charged the driver, Justin Masek, 26, of Perch Road, with three counts of evading responsibility and one count of reckless driving.
Masek allegedly told police the gas pedal on his truck got stuck.
In a prepared statement, Ansonia Police Lt. Andrew Cota said cops received several 911 calls about 5:24 p.m. regarding a white pickup truck hitting parked cars on Wakelee Avenue before hitting a utility pole.
“Upon officer’s arrival a pickup truck was located with heavy damage,” Cota said. “Additionally, the utility pole had been broken in half and the traffic light at the intersection had fallen to the ground. The power to the area needed to be shut off by United Illuminating to make the scene safe.”
“Upon further investigation it was learned that this vehicle had initially been involved in an accident at the intersection of Howard Ave and Jackson Street, where a street sign and fire hydrant had been struck,” Cota said. “The vehicle then continued west on Jackson Street and then north onto Wakelee Avenue and struck three more vehicles while traveling north on Wakelee Avenue. The vehicle finally came to rest at the intersection of exit 19 when it struck the utility pole.”
“Masek claimed that the accelerator of his vehicle got stuck causing the accidents,” Cota said.
Power was restored overnight and the utility pole has been replaced, Cota said, but the signal lights at Wakelee Avenue and exit 19 of Route 8 have been removed, with temporary stop signs installed.
Cota said Masek was held on $5,000 and was to be arraigned at Superior Court in Derby Tuesday (July 21).
