GRAHAM, Wash. — A car crash in Pierce County knocked out a power pole, tangled up another vehicle in downed wires, and shut down a major roadway for close to 12 hours Tuesday.
Washington State Patrol is searching for the person who caused the mess.
“I’m surprised there wasn’t a fatality anyway. The car was way off the road and buried and a pole was laying across the hood,” said Steve Fryer Sr., who lives nearby.
According to Graham Fire & Rescue, a car crashed into a power pole on Meridian E and 264th St E around 1 a.m. It knocked wires into the roadway.
When first responders arrived, things got even more complicated.
“The occupant that was in the car was gone. The car was abandoned when we got here,” said Assistant Chief Steve Richards, of Graham Fire and Rescue.
"More than likely they didn't want to stick around for the breathalyzer test, is my guess,” said Steve Fryer, Jr Jr., who lost power because of the crash.
Minutes later, another car got wrapped up in the downed wires.
"Very lucky that the power was shut off and the wires were not live, so he was able to get out and get his car from out of the scene,” said Richards.
Crews closed a section of Meridian, which forced commuters to take back roads in the dense fog and led to a handful of other minor accidents.
The crash also caused power outages that took crews all morning to fix.
The Fryers said that stretch of roadway can be crazy.
“This intersection right here, at 264th and Meridian, there are a lot of accidents here. It's just busy, and it's busy in the broad daylight,” said Steve Fryer Jr.
Waking up to a traffic mess doesn't surprise them.
"All I can say is that's the way it goes sometimes out here in the country,” said Steve Fryer Sr.
According to WSP, witnesses saw someone run from the car after the crash. They’re still searching for the driver.
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