Foreigner knocks down power poles causing massive blackout in Thu Duc City

An Italian man claimed to have dropped off at the wheel when he slammed into utility poles, leading to over 100 households suffering a blackout, in Ho Chi Minh City on the weekend.
March 22, 2021 | 09:24
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Scene of the accident. (Photo: Vietnamnet)

As Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper released yesterday, a 7-seater sedan plowed into pedestrians on pavement and then knocked down four power poles. Luckily, no injuries were reported but the vehicle was seriously damaged and 122 households experienced a power cut. The foreign man who knocked down four power poles causing a massive blackout in newly-established Thu Duc City’s Thao Dien Ward confessed that he fell asleep while driving.

Police yesterday announced to be investigating the crash, which could lead to charges for the driver. Police have prepared files to deal with an accident where an Italian man crashed his seven-seater car into and broke five electric power poles in Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City on Saturday, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday.

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The accident left hundreds of households in the ward without power. (Photo: SGGP)

The driver is 37 years old, owns a company in Thao Dien, and has lived in Vietnam for several years, the source said. The Italian man said overwork had exhausted him so he fell asleep at the wheel before causing the crash. He expressed his willingness to pay for the damages, to be calculated by a state electricity company. The driver will also be subject to an administrative penalty.

“We’re waiting for calculations from the electricity company before proceeding with the case,” the source said.

At 4:00 am on Saturday, the Italian was driving on Nguyen U Di Street in Thao Dien when he veered off course and hit a utility pole on the sidewalk, breaking it, according to police reports. His car continued slamming into four other electric power poles, grounding all of them, before coming to a halt.

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