EAST BRUNSWICK — Police said only minor injuries resulted from two related car accidents Tuesday morning.
Police said the accidents occurred on Route 18 between Arthur Street and Cranbury Road at around 10:08 a.m.
A northbound sport utility vehicle went off the road and struck the curb and then a utility pole on the right side of the road. The vehicle then came to rest on its side, blocking the right lane of Route 18 north.
The utility pole broke in half, causing power wires to fall onto both the north and southbound lanes.
A second accident involving four cars then occurred when vehicles on Route 18 southbound were suddenly forced to stop to avoid the fallen power lines.
Traffic was detoured around the accident scenes while utility crews repaired the downed pole.
Police said minor injuries were reported to the driver of the SUV.
Route 18 was reopened at 11:20 a.m., though the right lane of the northbound side near Arthur Street remained closed for several hours as utility crews repaired the downed pole.
Patrolman Kevin Steinbeck of the East Brunswick Police Department investigated the accident.