Update: Police Arrest Man Who Crashed into Utility Pole

Update, July 5, 2:55 p.m.: Police arrested a 31-year-old Columbia man who ran into a utility pole on Sunset Boulevard Thursday night while trying to get away from an officer, causing a power outage in the area. 

Scott Kenneth Brannon is charged with two counts of failure to stop for police, one count of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, one count of failure to obey police, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and a seat belt violation.

Around 9 p.m. Thursday night, an officer with the Lexington Police Department initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle Brannon was driving, according to the police department. Brannon immediately accelerated past several cars in front of him. 

As Brannon tried to maneuver back into the eastbound lane of travel, he struck the front of another vehicle and then ran into a utility pole in the 5600 block of Sunset Boulevard across from Food Lion, according to police. 

Witnesses saw Brannon crawl from his vehicle and run from the scene, according to police. Officers conducted searches Thursday night but were unable to find Brannon. 

Officers saw Brannon again around 1 p.m. Friday in the 4900 block of Sunset Boulevard, according to police. With the help of the Lexington County K-9 Unit, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the South Carolina Highway Patrol and a citizen who saw the subject hiding and notified an officer on scene, officers arrested Brannon. 

He is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.

Update, July 5, 10 a.m.: Police are still searching for the person who crashed into a power pole on Sunset Boulevard Thursday night and knocked out power in the area. 

The driver hit the pole in the 5600 block of Sunset Boulevard around 9 p.m., got out of the vehicle and ran, Lt. Matt Davis with the Lexington Police Department said. 

The driver was fleeing from police and also ran into another vehicle before hitting the power pole, according to a report from WIS. 

Check back later for updates.

Original story, July 4, 10 p.m.: A driver crashed into a power pole on Sunset Boulevard near Food Lion Thursday night and knocked the power out in the area, according to Lexington Police.

The driver then got out and ran away, leaving the vehicle behind, according to police. Police and emergency crews were at the scene.

Power was out from the Food Lion shopping center all the way to the TJ Maxx shopping center.

About 843 SCE&G customers lost power, including houses in the area near Mallard Lakes Drive, according to the SCE&G power outage map. Crews were still working to restore power around midnight.

Check back later for more information.