9ebf57e09f8551a9fa04144dcf03a217.jpg

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP: Section of Carter Road closed for several days

Involved is area between Elm Ridge Road and Pennington-Rocky Hill Road/Cherry Valley Road

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   Carter Road, which is a major commuter road, will remain closed between Elm Ridge Road and Pennington- Rocky Hill Road/Cherry Valley Road in Hopewell Township for two to three days as a result of seven utility poles coming down, or nearly down, early Thursday afternoon.
   Township police are recommending that motorists avoid the area if at all possible.
   Chief George Meyer said that, at 12:46 p.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of a pole down on a truck on Carter Road. Officers found a total of seven utility poles fully down or leaning severely. One pole, with electric wires attached, was on top of a dump truck with the driver still inside.
   Officers learned that Eugene Koch, 65, of Stony Brook Road, was traveling north on Carter Road, north of Cleveland Road, when he saw a utility pole snap and start to fall. He tried to avoid that pole, but it struck his truck. Before he was able to stop, the next pole came down on his truck.
   Mr. Koch remained safely inside of his vehicle. He was uninjured. Once representatives of Public Service Electric & Gas arrived and determined it was safe to do so, Mr. Koch exited his vehicle.
   The utility poles involved are larger than average and carry high voltage feed wires.
   Public Service representatives estimate it will take two to three days to reset new poles and restring the wires.
   Mercer County Highway Department officials are posting a detour, as the road will remain closed. The detour is Elm Ridge Road to Pennington-Rocky Hill Road.