Van crash temporarily closes High Street in Greenfield

GREENFIELD — A portion of High Street was briefly closed on Friday afternoon when a driver struck two old utility poles and their replacement, scattering wood pieces.

The unidentified driver, who was issued a citation for a marked lanes violation, was driving south on High Street when he swerved off the roadway for unknown reasons at around 12:25 p.m., striking three poles near the sidewalk parallel with Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s Emergency Room parking lot, according to Greenfield Police Officer Jedadiah Henry, who directed motorists to a detour. He explained there are two shortened poles of either side of the one that replaced them.

“All three poles were technically struck,” he said. “Basically, the two old utility poles took the brunt of the damage, saving the main pole.”

High Street was closed between its intersection with Sanderson Street and Beacon Street while Koch’s Automotive towed away the van and emergency personnel cleared the roadway of debris.

Two Eversource trucks also responded. Workers determined there was no significant damage to the functional utility pole.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

]]>