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.