Dashcam Video: Falling Light Pole Nearly Hits Alaska Patrol Car
- Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:22am by
Scott Baker
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Anchorage police officer’s patrol car nearly got smashed by a light pole that was knocked off its base by another driver.
The incident was captured Tuesday by Officer Rick Dykstra’s dashboard video camera. The department released the video Wednesday. It shows the pole toppling from the right and crashing onto the highway.
The officer was unable to avoid running over the pole.
“You’re like, ‘Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, don’t hit. And then it’s just, bloop, like a speed bump,” said department spokeswoman Anita Shell.
Anchorage’s first snow Sunday and Monday was blamed for more than 250 reported accidents. Fresh snow and an ice continued to make driving hazardous Tuesday morning.
Dykstra was on patrol just after 6 a.m. on the Glenn Highway south of Eagle River, about 200 yards behind a pickup driven by 30-year-old Dale Cooper.
Police said Cooper lost control of the pickup, slid across several lanes of traffic, entered the ditch on the north side of the highway and sheared off the pole. The pickup flipped onto its roof.
Dykstra was pulling over to assist Cooper when the pole descended in front of him. Dykstra continued to the shoulder and hurried to Cooper, who may have blacked out, Shell said. The driver was unable to extract himself from the truck.
“He had been hanging upside down in the vehicle, couldn’t get himself disconnected,” Shell said. “When the officer made contact with him, he actually had to climb into the overturned vehicle, get him detached form the seat belt, pull him out.”
Medics transported Cooper to a hospital and reported his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. No citations were issued.
Despite running over the pole, Dykstra’s patrol car was not damaged.
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GLOBALCRASH
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:39pmI LIVE JUST 2 MILES FROM THIS EXIT!! The sign you see is the exit the Anchorage Landfill and Eagle River exit on the Glenn Highway heading into Anchorage. YES there were about 200+ accidents this weekend with our first years snow fall. I don’t get it, every year when we get out first snow fall, we always get a ton of accidents. Its like Alaskans forget how drive in the snow after break up (thats spring time to you lower 48ers). We have snow on the ground till April-May.
Conditions can get really bad, but a lot of it deals with people driving to fast for the conditions. I remember one winter, on my way home from work, after getting off shift in the morning, I counted 25 cars in the ditch on a 4 mile track on the Glenn Highway to my exit. About half were on there sides or upside down. It was amazing. It looked like a Zombie Apocalypse had taken place.
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:38pmTalk about right place right time…
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 3:33pmTimberrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Report Post »scoter
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 12:47pmhttp://www.helpfireobama.com Please give $20.12
Report Post »tlchands
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 8:14am250 auto wrecks for the first snow up here is not that high… I think this is one of those articles intended to take one’s mind off of the heavy, end-of-our-country-and-world articles for a minute, like a break. Not all of us need a break, but some of us do. And Glenn Beck is always about giving thanks for the good things that happen, like no one getting hurt in this incident.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 6:49amReally Blaze? You are putting that off as news! Really? The politicians are robbing us blind and you have the nerve to shove that in our faces as news! How pathetic.
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 7:36amI agree, this is not worthy of our attention.
Report Post »thop1960
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 8:22amChill out dude, the sky hasn’t fallen yet. There is other news out there in the world, and The Blaze is doing their job. Thanks Blaze! I think you should throw in some more humor, laughing is good, although OWS is a hoot!
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 5:23amThe world coming to an end and we get traffic wrecks. Do you think we are teeenagers wanting our MTV? Great job Blaze, your journalistic standards amaze me.
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:34amWhoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa that was a close call!
Report Post »lobster
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:06amGood tires on that patrol car. Thank God everyones OK.
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