Local & State Headlines

Man injured after light pole struck

• A bystander is in critical condition after a Monday afternoon traffic accident.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — A man was in critical Monday evening after he was injured when an sports utility vehicle slammed into a utility pole and knocked it down, police said.

The man, whose identity was unavailable Monday evening, was being treated at a local hospital after being hit by either the SUV or the falling light pole that had been hit by the vehicle, said Albany Police Department spokeswoman Phyllis Banks-Whitley.

He was in critical condition, she said.

The pole was struck by a black 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 45-year-old Lisa Bartlett, Banks-Whitley said.

Bartlett lost control of her vehicle as she was driving south on South Slappey Boulevard at about noon Monday, hitting and knocking down the utility pole at South Slappey Boulevard and West Oakridge Drive, Banks-Whitley said.

It was unclear how the man was injured and police were still investigating. Bartlett told police that she had to make “an abrupt lane change to avoid hitting another car,” Banks-Whitley said.

No charges have been filed against Bartlett and police will not know until later this week whether any will be filed, Banks-Whitley said.

Police are asking for any witnesses to the incident to call (229) 431-2100.

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