Sleepy drivers cited in two crashes into power poles

A Metolius man was unhurt but cited on several charges Wednesday afternoon after he apparently fell asleep behind the wheel, drifted off Highway 126 east of Powell Butte and struck a power pole, Oregon State Police said.

The crash, which occurred shortly after 4 p.m., partly shut the road for about an hour — and was the second involving a drowsy driver hitting a power pole in the region in two days, troopers said.

OSP said Oscar Antonio Martinez, 27, told police he fell asleep while driving west on the highway in a red Honda Civic. He was alone in the car, which went off the westbound shoulder and struck a power pole, troopers said. Crook County Fire and Rescue, ODOT and Pacific Power responded.

The driver was cited for driving with a suspended license and driving uninsured, as well as failure to drive within a lane. Star Towing from Prineville towed the car.

On Tuesday, an 18-year-old from Salem was cited for careless driving after he apparently fell asleep behind the wheel on Hwy. 26 near John Day and his pickup struck a power pole, downing lines and sparking a small grass fire, OSP said.

OSP troopers and other emergency personnel responded to milepost 159 around 12:30 p.m. on the reported crash and fire.

According to OSP Sgt.Tom Hutchison, Tyler D. Meliza, 18, of Salem, was at the wheel of a 1998 Dodge pickup pulling a flatbed trailer heading east on the highway.

The pickup left the road, rolled over and struck a power pole, he said. That caused the power lines to drop and start the vehicle and the surrounding vegetation on fire.

Meliza was unhurt in the crash, Hutchison said.

Fire crews from John Day and the Bureau of Land Management responded and put out the blaze.

Hutchison said an initial investigation suggested Meliza fell asleep, causing the crash. He was cited for careless driving.

OSP was also assisted on scene by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Blue Mountain Ambulance and the John Day Police Department.