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Crash Near San Rafael Knocks Power To Thousands In Marin County

SAN RAFAEL (CBS SF) -- PG&E has restored power to all customers who lost electricity when a car crashed into a utility pole adjacent to U.S. Highway 101 in San Rafael Wednesday morning, causing a large outage and snarling the morning commute.

PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said power was restored shortly after 8:30 a.m.

He said crews will continue working along southbound Highway 101 throughout the day to replace the power pole and repair some cross-arms on other poles, and the slow lane of southbound Highway 101 will be closed between Lucas Valley Road and Manuel T. Freitas Parkway.

Moreno said repairs are expected to be completed by about 3:30 p.m.

The crash was reported just after 6 a.m. south of Lucas Valley Road.

CHP Officer Andrew Barclay said a car smashed into the pole, shearing it and leaving someone trapped inside the vehicle. The person was eventually able to get out of the car, and suffered only minor injuries, he said.

The pole was being held up by the tension of the wires, according to the CHP.

PG&E spokesman J.D. Guidi said the incident initially left 2,533 customers without power in northern San Rafael.

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