Doreen V. Poulin says she was trying to avoid an animal in the roadway.
AUBURN – A section of Summer Street was closed to traffic Friday after a car slammed into a utility pole, causing both car and pole to burst into flames.
Police said Doreen V. Poulin, 42, of Auburn was driving west on Summer Street about 4:30 p.m. when she lost control and struck the Central Maine Power Co. utility pole.
Officers who first responded said they could see a plume of smoke rising from the area. Poulin’s car had burst into flames on impact and the fire spread to the base of the utility pole.
Poulin was out of the car, suffering from pain but otherwise unhurt in the crash. She told police she was trying to swerve to avoid animal in the street when she struck the pole.
Fire crews made quick work of the fire, but the pole was cracked near the base where it was struck.
Police closed the street from Mount Auburn Avenue to Young’s Corner Road while rescue crews put out the fire.
Auburn Public Works was called to clear debris from the street and CMP sent workers to repair the damaged pole. The street was expected to reopen by midnight.
Poulin’s car, a 1997 Ford, was totaled, with damage estimated at $8,000. Damage to the utility pole was estimated at $2,000.
The crash remained under investigation Friday night.
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