Downed pole closes Route 48
A downed utility pole has closed traffic on Route 48 between Boisseau Avenue in Southold and Chapel Lane in Greenport today, according to Southold Police.
The pole fell in the road near Albertson Lane about 10:30 a.m. this morning. The Long Island Power Authority was on the scene shortly after and police said the road should reopen by this evening.
Sonja Reinholt Derr of Greenport was driving west on the road when she saw the utility pole start to fall.
“Myself and another car came to a screeching halt,” she said. “There it was sparking and catching [tree] limbs on fire.” She said the rain extinguished much of the burning trees.
Ms. Reinholt Derr said she stopped, called 911 and helped divert traffic until help arrived on the scene.