More than 1,300 West Shore residents lost power Monday night after a white Mercedes collided with a BC Hydro electrical box in the 700-block of Strandlund Ave. in Langford.
When police and fire crews arrived on scene shortly after 8 p.m., the 37-year-old female driver – the lone occupant of the vehicle – was trapped inside and smoke was emanating from the box.
Crews kept verbal contact with the driver, who was able to communicate that she was not injured, until BC Hydro crews could arrive and safely mitigate the electrical hazards. Once the scene was deemed safe, first responders extracted the woman from the vehicle. She was transported to hospital to be assessed.
The force of the crash moved the power box several feet from its foundation and it took crews roughly five hours to restore power to the area.
Alcohol may have been a contributing factor, but police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com