Downed poles close street
City firefighters and Peterborough Utilities workers assist the driver of a trapped car away from downed wires after a pickup truck crashed into a hydro pole near the YMCA on Aylmer St. on Friday morning. The collision knocked down several poles, causing power outages downtown and in the west end. Police closed Aylmer St. S. between Princess St. and Romaine St. until about midnight to allow Peterborough Utilities crews, who battled against rapidly changing weather, to restore the power. Initially thousands were without power, but it was restored to all but 107 customers in the immediate area by mid-afternoon. The driver of the pickup truck experienced a medical issue, resulting in the crash, and he was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for further treatment, Peterborough Paramedics Deputy Chief Chris Barry told The Examiner. Two people were trapped in their car after the wires came down on the car. A dog was also rescued from one of the vehicles. Because of the power outage, the YMCA of Central East Ontario closed the Balsillie Family Y in Peterborough for the rest of Friday. The Snofest Youth Night that had been scheduled for Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Peterborough YMCA was also been cancelled. See more photographs from the collision scene in the online gallery at www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com.