FURTHER UPDATE AT 12:50pm: Hwy. 101 fully open. The driver, a 49-year-old South Porcupine man, has been charged with careless driving.
A lot of East Enders experienced a morning without coffee on Tuesday, and along with their fellow commuters, had to detour via Gold Mine Road to get to work.
Lights and coffee makers went out just before 6:30am, when a pick-up truck took out a hydro pole at the Bruce Y.
Timmins Police communications coordinator Marc Depatie says the driver of the eastbound vehicle failed to negotiate the curve at the interchange. His vehicle also knocked down a street light and a couple road signs.
“He did manage to make out without too severe an injury, despite considerable damage done to the vehicle,” Depatie remarks.
“We are still determining the root cause of the collision. Impairment doesn’t appear to be a contributing factor here and seatbelts, at the end of the day, do save lives.”
At the height of the power interruption, more than 1,600 Hydro One customers were affected.