Emergency services were called to a busy Barrie intersection today after a large tractor-trailer struck a hydro pole, 'energizing' his vehicle and closing the intersection for more than an hour.
To ensure his safety, the driver of the Coco Paving vehicle, which was towing heavy equipment, was forced to stay inside the cab while crews worked on the overhead power lines at the corner of Anne and Dunlop streets to make sure it was safe to exit.
At approximately 12 p.m., Saturday, the transport truck came off Highway 400 and was turning north onto Anne Street, but cut it too wide and knocked down the heavy-duty hydro pole.
The crash caused the pole, which was holding a transformer, to fall onto the truck, trapping the driver inside.
Barrie Fire Capt. Jake Lusted said some of the hydro pole also ended up under the truck.
"It appears he turned too wide and knocked down multiple poles, trapping the driver inside," Lusted said at the scene.
Hydro One crews were called to the intersection to shut off the power.
At 1:05 p.m., the power was shut off and the driver was able to get out of the truck safely.
The intersection was re-opened at about 2:30 p.m.