A TEENAGER escaped serious injury yesterday when he was distracted by his phone and crashed into a power pole in Mount Gambier.
Police and emergency services were called to Acacia Street at around 10.45am following reports a Holden Rodeo utility had collided with a power pole.
They arrived to find the vehicle at rest, with powerlines draped over the vehicle.
The sole 17-year-old male occupant of the utility – who was the holder of a P-plate licence – had vacated the vehicle and was being assisted by members of the public in a nearby park.
Limestone Coast Police highway patrol Senior Constable Paul Griffiths said the crash occurred when the boy became distracted by music playing on his phone.
“He was driving south on Acacia Street on his way to school and he’s had a negative alcotest and negative drug swab, which is a positive for him,” Snr Const Griffiths said.
“He stated that he had music playing on his phone in his pocket and he has attempted to take it out and turn it off while he’s driving.
“He’s looked down at his phone and that’s when he’s crashed into the power pole.”
He said the incident was a reminder of the danger distractions can present to the driver of a motor vehicle.
“As a road safety message for not only young drivers, but all drivers, distractions can cause crashes,” he said.
“There is a major campaign at the moment, which states that if there’s no-one watching then there’s nobody driving and that’s what we want to enforce.”
Fortunately, the boy only received minor injuries and was treated by paramedics for shock.
He was transported to hospital for observations.
“He’s a very lucky boy, given the significance of the impact,” Snr Const Griffiths said.
“He will be checked out for an elevated heart rate and shock, which for a 17-year-old boy involved in a crash like this is not unusual.”
SA Power Networks also attended the incident due to the damage to the powerlines.
Power was down in the surrounding areas of the crash for several hours while staff worked to fix the powerlines.
Snr Const Griffiths said the boy was lucky not to come into contact with the powerlines when he exited the vehicle.
“He had the crash and was not aware the powerlines were touching the vehicle, so he got out and came over and sat in the park,” he said.
“A big thanks to the members of the public who recognised the danger, closed the road and conducted traffic control until we got here.”
