Driver Says Seatbelt Adjustment Caused Crash into Utility Pole

An accident during the morning commuter rush on July 1 that closed a portion of South Main Street for most of the day was caused by a driver who said he was adjusting his seatbelt before he crashed into a utility pole.

Mark Verch, 28, of Wallingford was driving north about 8:30 a.m. on South Main Street when, according to a police report, he drove off the road and hit a utility pole at 1175 South Main St. near Deanrose Place.

The report says Verch told police he lost control of his car because he was trying to tighten his seatbelt. Verch is an employee of  in Cheshire and said he was working at the time of the accident. 

The car, a 1996 Volvo, owned by Verch's employer, was heavily damaged and towed from the scene.

A driver who was behind Verch when the accident occurred told police that the Volvo swerved over the double yellow line and into the breakdown lane twice before hitting the utility pole.

The pole toppled onto South Main Street spilling 40 gallons of cooling oil from a transformer. Traffic was detoured from King Road to North Brooksvale Road as environmental crews cleaned up the spill and CL&P replaced the pole.

CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross said at the time that the damage to the pole was extensive, causing the company to repair an entire section of the line. Several dozen electric customers lost power, Gross said.

Verch was not badly injured in the accident, according to the report, and refused medical treatment.