Car Hits Pole, Cuts Power In San Marco

A car slammed into a power pole in the 3400 block of Hendricks Avenue early Tuesday morning, knocking out power to about 6,000 homes and businesses in San Marco.

The accident happened about 3:30 a.m. Within one hour, JEA had power restored to about half of its customers. Utility officials restored the electricity to all affected customers by 8:45 a.m.

The accident happened in front of Hendricks Avenue Elementary. Principal Jayne Owens-Thompson told Channel 4 that the school used backup power for some lighting and systems, but the school will be hot because there is not enough electricity to run the air conditioning until the JEA power is back on. "The building will be warm. I mean, it's pretty hot right now," Owens-Thompson told Channel 4's Nikki Preede. "There's no penalty for children coming in late today." Owens-Thompson said that while tardies will not be counted Tuesday, children must come to school at some point or be marked absent. Police urge motorists passing the school Tuesday morning to use caution, as the flashing school-zone lights may not be working. Supervisor of Elections, Jerry Holland, said the polling location at the Methodist church on Hendricks Avenue opened on time at 7 a.m. using the location's battery backup power.

Channel 4's cameras were rolling when JSO gave the driver of the car a sobriety test and took him away in handcuffs. The driver's name and charges against him were not released at the scene.