Joliet Road Closed As Utility Pole Dangles Over Western Avenue

JOLIET —A giant utility pole was dangling and ready to fall across Western Avenue after someone driving a sports utility vehicle crashed into the utility pole around 2 p.m. on Friday.

The crash prompted several Joliet police to arrive within a matter of minutes. Some officers managed to direct traffic away from the dangerous area. Other officers helped ensure that the occupants of the vehicle, including several little children, made it out of the vehicle safely.

The Joliet Fire Department sent an engine and an ambulance to the wreck.

"All lanes of Western Avenue are currently closed at Hickory Street due to a damaged utility pole that is suspended over the lanes of traffic following a single vehicle traffic crash," Joliet police advised on Facebook. "It is believed that the roadway will be closed for a significant amount of time. Motorists are encouraged to utilize Interstate 80, McDonough Street, Bridge Street, or Ruby Street to travel west across the Des Plaines River. More details will be provided later this evening."

The city of Joliet public works division also needed to respond to the emergency because of the situation involving a live power line being downed.

Joliet Patch will update this story later on Friday once the Joliet Police Department can provide details as far as why the crash even happened. Some people in the neighborhood suggested that the sports utility vehicle heading westbound along Western Avenue had accelerated moments before leaving the street and crashing directly into the telephone pole, dislodging it.