Road closed after van driver trapped under wires in northern Berks

Hawk Mountain Road at Wieder Road was closed Friday afternoon after a cargo van hit a utility pole and was trapped under power lines.

The van struck a pole on Hawk Mountain Road and flipped, causing power lines to fall on the vehicle, according to Kempton Fire Company Lt. Owen King.

King said the crash happened about 1:30 p.m.

Photos posted to social media appear show the van on its side, with the power lines stretched across the van’s top facing side.

King said it was unclear whether the lines were live during the incident.

Met-Ed was able to shut off power to the lines, and emergency crews removed the driver from the van about an hour after the initial call.

“We had to wait for Met-Ed (to shut off power), I think their ETA was 45 minutes,” King said. “I don’t think it wound up being that long.”

The driver suffered minor injuries, King said. He said no passengers or other vehicles were involved.

Hawk Mountain Road near the incident remained closed Friday evening, King said.

Source: Berkshire mont