(Spirit Lake)– Minor injuries were reported Thursday evening when a car collided with a utility pole on old Highway 276 just north of 235th Avenue on the northwest side of Big Spirit Lake.
The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office says 57-year-old Harry Gerdes of Spirit Lake was southbound in dense fog when he traveled off the road and struck the pole, shearing it off at the base. The vehicle came to rest in a clump of trees.
Gerdes, who was alone in the vehicle, sustained only some minor scrapes. He declined immediate treatment. Authorities say seatbelt use and the fact both airbags deployed in the vehicle probably prevented more serious injuries.
Two thousand dollars in damage was estimated to a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Gerdes; the utility pole owned by Alliant Energy sustained an estimated five thousand dollars in damage.
The mishap took place around 9:15 p.m.
