By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A driver who said he got dirt in his eyes crashed into a utility pole on Highway 6 yesterday near Chehalis, knocking down multiple power lines before his pickup truck caught on fire.
Joshua A. Friedley, 28, of Centralia, was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital with what were described as bumps and bruises. He is in good condition this morning, according to a hospital spokesperson.
It happened about 6:30 p.m. about a half mile west of Interstate 5.
Electricity was knocked out to all of Adna and the Boistfort area for about four hours, according to Lewis County PUD.
According to the Washington State Patrol, Friedley was traveling eastbound when his vehicle left the roadway to the right, hit a ditch and the pole and rolled into an open field. He got out before the truck caught fire, according to responders.
Lewis County Fire District 6 was hampered by power lines across a metal fence, Firefighter Mike Goodwillie said. Members of the Chehalis Fire Department entered the area from a private drive on the other side and helped extinguish the fire, he said.
The 1995 Chevrolet pickup was destroyed, according to the state patrol.
Friedley was cited for “wheels off the roadway”, the state patrol reported.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I saw the pole the dudes gonna get a big bill for that to top it all off
I agree…..the man got dust in his eye…how can that accident be his fault?? I mean, yes, he was behind the wheel, but I seriously doubt he “told” the dust to get into his eye LOL
He gets a ticket for getting dirt in his eye and goingoff the road? Damn