1,600 Lose Power Tuesday When Driver Crashes Into Morristown Utility Pole: Cops

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – A Mendham resident may have fallen asleep, causing his car to crash into a utility pole in Morristown Tuesday morning, which resulted in power outages to some 1,600 customers, police said.

At 9:53 a.m. Morristown Police were dispatched to Mount Kemble Avenue for a report of single-car crash, Lt. Stuart Greer said. Officers responded and found a 2014 Honda CRV had struck a utility pole while driving northbound into Morristown, Greer said.

As a result, an electrical transformer attached to the pole was damaged and power outages occurred, Greer said. According to morristowngreen.com, some 1,600 customers were in the dark between Morristown and Morris Township. Approximately 90 minutes later all but 300 were restored, the report said.

The driver was identified as Benjamin Horowitz, 63, who told Officer DeAnna Dietrich he may have fallen asleep while driving, Greer said.

Horowitz complained of arm pain and was taken to Morristown Medical Center for an evaluation.

Horowitz will be issued a summons for careless driving.