Cops: West Orange Man Crashes Into Pole, Gas Lamp, Sign on South Orange Ave.

A 29-year-old West Orange man lost control of his car on W. South Orange Avenue last Wednesday, knocking down a utility pole, gas lamp and a no-parking sign, Chief Jim Chelel said.

The man was driving alone and traveling westbound at approximately 1:30 a.m. when he lost control and careened into the objects, Chelel said. South Orange Rescue Squad personnel took him to UMDNJ to be treated for minor scratches and bruises, Chelel said.

A resident of South Orange Avenue near the accident scene said the car landed in the yard of a home and the driver's side door was completely crushed. She also said the street was shut down for an hour and half during the clean-up, and police, fire, the sheriff's office, a tow truck, two ambulances and a PSE&G truck were on the scene. Gas could be smelled in the neighborhood for a while, she said.

Police issued the man a summons for reckless driving and failure to exhibit an insurance card, said Chelel, who said the man could be charged with DWI pending the results of blood tests.