Man critical after Middle Rd. crash

A man is now in critical condition after the car he was driving crashed into a wooden utility pole in Gualo Rai yesterday afternoon, toppling the pole and causing a traffic gridlock along Middle Road. The accident also resulted in a widespread power outage on Saipan.
The crash happened across Bali Fashion and EZ Mart along Chalan Pale Arnold in Gualo Rai and caused the car to flip to its side.

According to witnesses, the vehicle was speeding north when it collided with the pole, causing it to fall across Middle Road.

The crash caused a power outage starting at 2pm and repairs were still ongoing as of press time yesterday. According to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s Power Division, they don’t know how long it will take to repair the damage caused by the crash. Affected areas of the power outage ranged from Garapan all the way to Chalan Lau Lau’s main road.

A Department of Public Safety statement identified the car’s driver as Sherwin A. Camacho, 35.

The DPS statement said the vehicle was traveling northbound in the outer lane when it approached other vehicles near Pizza Hut and merged into the inner lane to overtake slower traffic. It then went back to the outer lane and crashed straight into the utility pole.

The DPS statement said that brake lights were not seen prior to the crash.

According to traffic crash investigator Norris Kwon, the crash was due to speed and reckless driving.

DPS stated that the driver was not wearing his safety belt and no airbags deployed in the vehicle.

With the fallen pole straddling Middle Road, heavy traffic immediately built up. CUC crew soon arrived at the scene to repair the damage.

One eyewitness told Saipan Tribune that he went to check the person in the car if he was okay. According to him, Camacho could not talk as he was bleeding profusely and blood was gushing from his nose, mouth, and head.

Another witness said he was exiting near Eucon International School and was passing by the area when he saw the car hit the pole.

“The pole fell and it looked like it was hanging near the highway,” the man said.

Another witness said the accident happened around 2pm and said that the impact was great “because the pole got knocked down but the car went a little more forward, pushing the pole along with it.”

“The car didn’t even stop after he hit the pole; it went right through it,” the witness said.

Saipan Tribune learned that an ambulance came and took the victim to the Commonwealth Health Center. The car was towed to the Motion Auto Repair Shop near Triple J Motors on Beach Road.

DPS stated that the Camacho is in critical condition.

The car itself was totaled from front to back. The front of the car—a 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage DE four-door white sedan with plate number ACC 500—showed the impact and the glass at the back was shattered. Inside the car, the steering wheel was bent; the bottom area for the gas pedal and brake was popped up toward the driver’s chair.

The front window was also shattered and blood was splattered everywhere, including in the car’s ceiling behind the driver’s seat. Blood was also found on the mats that lay on the backseat.

The car was found lying on the driver’s side, along with the broken telephone pole stuck to the front of the hood, upon the arrival of police officers.