Asleep at the wheel

A driver lost control after reportedly falling asleep at the wheel of a 2004 Toyota at approximately 4:15 a.m on Oct. 11. Police said the driver was traveling down Peninsula Boulevard in Woodmere between Lafayette Drive and Saddle Ridge Road when the accident occurred. The car hit a LIPA pole outside a residence at 1060 Peninsula Blvd., slicing the pole in half, and continued approximately 100 feet, flipping over and coming to a stop on the lawn of 1066 Peninsula.

The Kaplan family, which lives in the home where the LIPA pole was damaged, woke up after seeing a flash of light and hearing the sound of the car flipping over, according to Michael Kaplan, the owner of the house. Kaplan said that he and his 16-year-old daughter Melanie heard the LIPA pole cracking and falling onto their front lawn moments after the crash.

“We thought at first that it was thunder and lightning,” Kaplan said. “It was such a loud explosion. I looked out the window and thought it would have been lightning hitting a tree, but I just saw flashing lights and what looked like an upside down vehicle on our neighbor's lawn.”

Kaplan said he immediately called 911 and went outside to make sure no one was injured. He said that police arrived about 10 minutes after his phone call.

Police administered a breathalyzer test at the scene, but results were negative. The driver and a passenger were taken to Franklin General Hospital where they were treated and released for the injuries that occurred during the accident.

Electricity on the block was only affected for about 20 minutes, according to Barbara Kaplan, Michael’s wife. She said a new pole was in place by Sunday afternoon.

“We’re thankful the car didn’t go into our house or even a neighbor’s house,” Barbara Kaplan said. “It could have even caused a fire, if you think about that. We’re thankful that this is all that occurred.”