Car Crash Knocked Out Traffic Lights

A single-car accident on Sept. 10 caused the lights at the intersection of Atwood and Greenville Avenues to go dark for several days, Deputy Chief David DeCesare confirmed.

During a recent interview, DeCesare said reports indicate that a vehicle struck the support pole on the westbound side of Greenville Avenue.

The crash knocked out the traffic lights; since Greenville Avenue is a state road — R.I. Rte. 5 — the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is handling the repairs, DeCesare said.

DOT spokesman Charles St. Martin III said department workers will be replacing the "mast arm pole," a vertical support for the traffic lights, within the next couple of days.

Following the accident, St. Martin said, workers removed the original pole. A new pole, taken from the department's inventory, will be installed in its place.

Later this week, DOT crews will be pouring a new concrete base for the replacement pole and rewiring the signal lights.

The work is expected to be completed by early next week, St. Martin explained.

DeCesare said the department will be releasing more information about the incident once the Traffic Division completes its investigation.

Watch JohnstonPatch for updates on this story.