Calif. Man Survives Car Crash Despite Traffic Pole Nearly Splitting His Vehicle in Half
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"The driver was seriously injured, and our thoughts are with him during his recovery," the Irvine Police Department said
Irvine Police Department/Instagram
A photo of the car crash from Irvine PoliceA California man is lucky to be alive following an incident that nearly totaled his car, according to officials.
The Irvine Police Department (IPD) shared in an Instagram post that a man was hospitalized after his car "collided with a traffic signal pole" at an intersection just after 1 a.m. local time on Friday, Nov. 29.
IPD said its officers and Orange County Fire Authority partners responded to the scene of the incident and "quickly rescued the driver from the vehicle." The man — who was not identified — had sustained injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
"The driver was seriously injured, and our thoughts are with him during his recovery," IPD said in its post, encouraging anyone with information about what happened to reach out to the department.
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IPD did not say how the car ended up hitting the pole and whether or not speed or driving while under the influence were factors in the crash.
The department shared a photo of the white sports car after the incident. The pole appeared to have split the car in half, and was sticking out of the middle of the car. The top of the car was severely bent, and bits and pieces from the front of the car were in the road.
Behind the car, policemen and firemen could be seen assessing the damage and blocking off the road so that other vehicles could not pass through.
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Several neighbors commented on IPD's post that the area where the incident happened, Modjeska Street and Still Night, is a popular racing spot. One person wrote, "Cars race on that street all the way up to [the] 241 entrance."
Another said, "The amount of… cars on Irvine Blvd. after 10 p.m. is alarming."
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Others sent their well-wishes to the driver involved in the incident. One person wrote that they were sending "thoughts and prayers for [a] speedy recovery," while another noted that the driver was "very lucky to have survived."
IPD did not provide any updates on the condition of the driver since issuing the post. Anyone who witnessed the incident is encouraged to email jbalos@cityofirvine.org.
