Route 206 accident cuts power to hundreds

Driver uninjured after hitting

pole near New Amwell Road
By:Purvi Desai
   A motor vehicle crashed into a utility pole on Route 206 late Wednesday night, snapping it and knocking out power to surrounding area homes for nearly two hours.
   Chihlin Linchou, 31, of Hillsborough "fell asleep and drifted off the roadway" in a 2007 black Toyota Camry before crashing into the utility pole near the intersection of New Amwell Road and Route 206 at approximately 11:20 p.m., according to a Hillsborough Township Police press release.
   There were no serious injuries as a result of the accident, police said.
   Power lines from the snapped utility pole lay across the roadway blocking traffic after the accident, police said, and they had to close the southbound lane of Route 206 between New Amwell and Amwell roads to allow for utility repairs by the Public Service Electric and Gas and Embarq Phone Company. Crews remained at work in the area Thursdat afternoon, although Route 206 was open for through traffic.
   A detour was set up by the New Jersey Department of Transportation in accordance with the Somerset County Traffic Incident Management Diversion Route Plan, police said. Early morning traffic was snarled as commuters were rerouted to Auten Road.
   Ms. Linchou was charged with careless driving, police said.
   Among the responding emergency services to the accident were the Hillsborough Township Police Department, the Hillsborough Township Fire Company, the Hillsborough Township Rescue Squad 79 and the Hillsborough Township Office of Emergency Management.