A crash that shut Route 34 in Oxford for several hours Sunday and Monday was caused by a driver using his cell phone, state police said.
Joseph P. Debiase, 34, of Seymour, was ticketed for using a mobile device while driving and failing to drive right in connection to the crash, which happened just before midnight.
According to a police report, Debiase dropped his cell phone while texting, then crashed while trying to pick it up.
Debiase’s 2002 Dodge Dakota struck a utility pole near the intersection with Riverbend Road, near Route 188.
“Luckily the gentleman was not injured and luckily no one else was hurt. This could have been a whole lot worse,” said Sgt. Daniel Semosky, the resident state trooper.
Detours were set up until 7 a.m. Monday.
