Police: Driver who caused Salem power outage too drunk for jail

SALEM, OR (KPTV) - Salem police say a drunk driver who caused a crash that cut power to more than 2,000 customers was too drunk to go to jail early Sunday morning.

Police said 33-year-old Angel Aguilar hit a parked car at more than 80 miles per hour near Front Street Northeast and Commercial Street Northeast just before 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

The impact pushed the parked vehicle into a power pole, shearing off a piece of the pole and launching it into a nearby tree.

Investigators said part of the tree came down on another unoccupied, parked car. Live power lines ignited the tree and eventually spread to the vehicle.

The car burned while firefighters waited for crews to shut off power to the lines.

Portland General Electric said about 2,000 customers were without power for several hours Sunday morning. Marion County dispatchers estimated about a 20-block area of Salem and Keizer lost power due to the crash.

Police said a breathalyzer test showed Aguilar's blood alcohol content to be more than three times the legal limit. Officers determined him to be too drunk to go to jail, so he was cited and released at the hospital.

Aguilar has been charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and criminal mischief.

http://www.kptv.com/story/15489360/susp ... wer-outage