Woman Rams Utility Pole, Casts Darkness Over Half of Wildwood Shopping Center, Throws Rt. 235 Traffic into Turmoil

CALIFORNIA ---  A woman driving a car southbound on Rt. 235 left the roadway near the ReMax Real Estate office on Monday evening about 9:00 pm and struck a utility pole causing power to go off for about half of Wildewood Shopping Center, including the Outback Steakhouse which was still open for business but was forced to close.
St. Mary's Sheriff's deputies, using flashlights with cones on them and wearing reflective vests, set up flares at the intersection of Rt. 4 and Rt. 235 and directed traffic.
The traffic light at Mervel Dean Road and Rt. 235 was also knocked out due to the SMECO power failure in the area.