This fully loaded logging truck jack-knifed on the Caribou Trail on Saturday, December 4, hitting a power pole next to the Lutsen Fire Hall. Arrowhead Electric line crews were called to right the pole. No one was hurt in the accident.
On Saturday, December 4, a fully loaded logging truck skidded off the Caribou Trail, jackknifed, and hit a power pole in front of the Lutsen Fire Hall. Cook County Law Enforcement received the call reporting the accident from an anonymous party at 9:29 a.m. The caller said the driver was still in the truck, registered to Ernest Timber & Trucking.
Law Enforcement paged the Lutsen First Responders, Lutsen Fire Department and Cook County Ambulance to respond, with Lutsen First Responders arriving first at 9:32 a.m. The First Responders found that the driver, William Charles Wright, 38, of Two Harbors, was uninjured so the other emergency responders were cancelled.
Wright told a witness that his truck slid because of the snowy road. Another witness said he believed that the truck’s brakes failed, but when contacted on Tuesday, State Patrol Officer Leah Carpenter said the crash was not due to faulty brakes. She confirmed that icy conditions contributed to the crash.
The Cook County Highway Department and Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Inc. were called. The highway department responded to sand the icy roadway and Arrowhead to right the crooked pole.
The Arrowhead Electric line crew was able to right the pole temporarily. Arrowhead Director of Operations Dave Wieben said that the impact of the truck “broke a chunk off the pole at ground level.” Wieben said the pole was being assessed to see whether or not it needs to be replaced. If it needs replacement, the cost, including labor, will be $2,500 – $5,000.
The crash also did not disrupt power for any customers other than the fire hall. “We were very fortunate,” said Wieben.
The pole was righted and the truck pulled out by 3:28 p.m. that afternoon.
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