A suspected drunk driver took out power to more than a 1,000 homes and businesses in Clayton.
Clayton Police say just before 8 pm on Friday, 46-year-old David Michael Onan of Winston Road in Clayton veered off US 70 Business just before the Dairy Queen. His Ford Explorer slammed into a massive power box – about the size of a car – beside the roadway. He was not seriously injured. He was charged by Clayton Police with driving while impaired, failure to maintain lane control and injury to property. He was taken to the Johnston County jail and given a $3,000 secured bond.
The power box that was destroyed helps provide electricity to more than 1,000 Clayton Public Power customers in the downtown and western areas of Town, including a large senior apartment community. The damage also left several Duke Energy commercial customers in the nearby shopping area in the dark, including Lowe’s Food. Almost everyone was restored within an hour thanks to the quick efforts of power crews.
The Town of Clayton is keeping track of the expenses associated with this massive emergency repair so that the person responsible for causing the accident can be billed for the cost to taxpayers. Photos by JoCoFire.com
