Sunday, January 11, 2015

A PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH RECKLESS DRIVING AND NOT HAVING A VALID LICENSE AFTER CRASHING INTO A POWER POLE FRIDAY EVENING



A PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH RECKLESS DRIVING AND NOT HAVING A VALID LICENSE AFTER CRASHING INTO A POWER POLE FRIDAY EVENING


SOUTHPORT, FLORIDA — A Panama City commercial truck driver has been charged with reckless driving and not having a valid license after crashing into a power pole Friday evening, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release.

Douglas Eugene Smith, 29, swerved into a utility pole on State 77 near McCormick Road for unknown reasons at about 2 p.m. Friday. The 1987 GMC truck left the roadway, traveling onto the west shoulder, and struck the power pole with its front. After impact, the truck toppled over on its left side. Power lines were knocked down and northbound and southbound lanes of State 77 were closed for several hours, officials said.

Smith was not injured during the collision, FHP reported.

The truck sustained about $26,000, and traffic was backed up and rerouted for several miles around the crash site. Several people were without power during the repairs. The road was reopened at about 6:30 p.m.