Mercer Island woman OK after driving car up utility pole

A 74-year-old Mercer Island woman avoided injury - and potentially electrocution - after driving her car up a utility pole Friday morning. Bellevue Police Officer Seth Tyler said the woman was driving westbound on Lake Washington Boulevard and looking to make a slight left turn onto Overlake Drive East. She did not see oncoming traffic and swerved to the right. In her attempt to avoid the cars, Tyler said, the woman drove up a PSE guide wire.

By Nat Levy • August 19, 2011 2:55 pm
A car ended up stuck on the guide wire of a utility pole Friday after steering too far to the right to avoid traffic.
A car ended up stuck on the guide wire of a utility pole Friday after steering too far to the right to avoid traffic.

A 74-year-old Mercer Island woman avoided injury  after driving her car up a utility pole Friday morning.

Bellevue Police Officer Seth Tyler said the woman was driving westbound on Lake Washington Boulevard and looking to make a slight left turn onto Overlake Drive East. She did not see oncoming traffic and swerved to the right. In her attempt to avoid the cars, Tyler said, the woman drove up a Puget Sound Energy guy wire.

She was taken to Overlake Hospital Medical Center following the crash, Tyler said, but only for precautionary reasons.

Tyler said the woman was told by the Bellevue Fire Department to stay in the car, which at that point was hanging vertically from the wire. Exiting the car could have caused electrocution, or grounding of the utility pole.

“It’s important that the person stay in their vehicle, and the tires will prevent that from occurring,” Tyler said. “As soon as they step out of the car they are completing a circuit and could be electrocuted.

PSE crews remained on the scene attempting to repair the pole.