Pick Up Takes Out Power Pole in Lavonia Sunday

The lights are back on for some Lavonia residents after a motorist hit a power pole.

It happened about 12:45 Sunday afternoon when,  according to Georgia State Patrol Hartwell Post Assistant Commander Matt Baxley, the driver of a pick up lost control.

“Trooper Garrett Smith responded to a one-vehicle accident on Vickery Street near Rainbow St.. Upon his arrival, he discovered a 1996 Ford F-150 had failed to maintain its lane and left the roadway,” Baxley said. “The vehicle struck a power pole and the struck a tree. When it struck the power pole, it caused it to fall down.”

The trooper gave the driver of the pick up a field sobriety test and Baxley said determined the driver was under the influence.

The driver is identified as 47-year old David Payne, address unknown.  No other vehicles were involved in the accident and there were no injuries.

This is the second time this summer a motorist has slammed into a power pole on Vickery St.

In June, a high-speed chase in the early morning hours of June 18 lead to the arrest of a Royston man, and damage to a power pole and a house.

In that case,51-year old Zachary Childers of 237 Turner St. in Royston, was arrested after trying to flee from police who had tried to stop him for a routine traffic violation.

Childers allegedly hit a power pole, then spun across the road, down a driveway and smashed his vehicle into the front of a house.  He faces multiple charges.