CALIFORNIA, Md. (July 24, 2013)—A vehicle with a single occupant struck a SMECO 80-foot galvanized steel power pole Wednesday morning north of the intersection of Rt. 4 and Mt. Harmony Rd. in Calvert County. The accident closed northbound Route 4 for approximately an hour. Police report that the operator of the vehicle was flown from the scene and is in critical condition.
SMECO inspected the damage and reported that the pole is currently stable enough to allow the road to re-open. However, the pole is scheduled to be replaced beginning at 8 p.m. this evening. Work is estimated to last approximately 10 hours, which would re-open northbound Route 4 around
6 a.m. on Thursday.
SMECO does not anticipate any power outages during this time.
Police are encouraging all northbound traffic to take Route 2 northbound to Route 260. There will be sign boards and officers in the area to direct traffic.