APOPKA, Fla.,None — A driver hit a power pole on School Street and US-441 in Apopka (see map) Wednesday, forcing the road to be shut down, the Florida Highway Patrol said. However, around 4:00pm one lane was reopened.
FHP said a pickup truck was traveling southbound on US-441 and the driver reportedly lost control and hit the power pole. An Apopka police spokesperson said the driver was possibly speeding.
The power pole fell over and trapped the driver and a passenger inside the white pickup. Apopka police arrived and said they told the driver and the passenger to remain inside the pickup truck until the Progress Energy arrived to assess the situation.
Utility workers arrived at the scene and shut off power to the lines. At that point, police said both the passenger and the driver were rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Police said both were listed in critical condition, but were expected to survive.
Troopers said the road closure caused a two-mile stretch of US-441 to shut down in both directions, from School Street to Plymouth-Sorrento Road. Even though one lane has been reopened, the other lanes could be shut down for approximately two to four hours, FHP said. Traffic is being re-routed around US-441.
The names of the injured people have not been released.
WFTV
