PERU - A Mexico man caused power outages in five River Valley area towns on Thursday night after the pickup truck he was driving veered off Route 108 and severed a utility pole, state police said.

Jarrod Chessie, 24, was not injured in the mishap, but his 1999 Ford truck was likely totaled, Trooper Corey Smith said by phone late Thursday night.

The accident happened at 5:59 p.m. near the intersection with Main Street in a 35 mph zone.

"He said he had a mechanical problem, but I believe speed was also a factor," Smith said. "But I don't expect any charges to be filed."

Smith said electricity to Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, Mexico and Peru was off for almost four hours while Central Maine Power crews worked to repair the damage.

A CMP spokesman in Augusta said late Thursday night that power in the area was turned off while crews swapped lines onto a new pole.

Dixfield's annual town meeting on Thursday night was twice disrupted by power failure from the accident - once at 8 p.m. for 12 minutes and the second at about 11 p.m. for 10 minutes.

Based on conversations with CMP linemen, Smith said damage to the power equipment was estimated at at least $4,000.