Copperopolis, CA…Early Morning Collision in Copperopolis Leads to Closure of Reeds Turnpike. Details are below…

BENARDO WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON REEDS TURNPIKE AT ABOUT 30 MPH. AUBREY WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON REEDS TURNPIKE ABOUT 50 YARDS BEHIND BENARDO. JUST EAST OF JACKSON STREET, BENARDO CAME TO A SLIGHT CURVE TO HIS RIGHT, BUT FAILED TO TURN WITH THE CURVE OF THE ROADWAY. BENARDO TRAVELED ACROSS THE WESTBOUND LANE AND OFF THE NORTH ROADWAY EDGE WHERE HIS VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE, KNOCKING IT OVER AT ITS BASE. THE UTILITY POLE FELL ACROSS THE ENTIRE ROADWAY AS AUBREY APPROACHED BENARDO. AUBREY SAW THE UTILITY POLE FALL ACROSS THE ROADWAY IN FRONT OF HIM, BUT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO HIT HIS BRAKES IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE UTILITY POLE, SO AUBREY TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT ONTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID THE UTILITY POLE AND COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES THAT WERE HANGING ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY.

REEDS TURNPIKE WAS CLOSED FOR REPAIR OF THE UTILITY POLE AND IS EXPECTED TO OPEN AT NOON ON MONDAY.