Portion of Wilkinson Boulevard closed after car slams into power pole

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A portion of Wilkinson Boulevard in west Charlotte was blocked near Remount Road after a car slammed into a pole overnight.

The wreck happened around 2:30 a.m. and police told Channel 9 that the area could be closed until noon.

Only one inbound lane of Wilkinson is open near Remount because this utility pole could collapse. @TrafficTeam9 has your alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/aEZBzzEg07
— Mark Barber (@MBarberWSOC9) July 5, 2017

Officers said the driver of a white car fell asleep behind the wheel and then crashed into the pole, flipping the vehicle and leaving power lines draped dangerously low.

Police closed the outbound lanes and had only one inbound lane open. They told Channel 9 it could remain that way throughout the morning. Tractor-trailers were also not being allowed through because of how low the lines are.

At 8 a.m. police reopened all inbound lanes, but the outbound lanes remained closed.

Wilkinson is closed to 18-wheelers because these lines are hanging dangerously low over the road. Repair crews expected here at 7:30.@wsoctv pic.twitter.com/mkBDSrfKLs
— Mark Barber (@MBarberWSOC9) July 5, 2017

AT&T crews are expected to arrive around 7:30 a.m. to start fixing the pole and lines but the road isn’t expected to reopen any time soon.

The driver of the car was taken to the hospital to be checked out as a precaution. Police said that driver would not be ticketed.

For alternate routes, those traveling outbound can avoid the area by heading onto Highway 74. Remount Road can be accessed by turning onto Greenland Avenue over to Camp Greene Street and back onto Wilkinson Boulevard.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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