Update: As of 6:00 am, only the right lane of El Camino Real remains closed at Vista Oceana. SDG&E anticipates the repairs to take most of the day.
Crews were uncertain if power to residents in the area will be affected during the replacement of the power pole.
Oceanside CA— At 3:28 this morning, December 1, 2014, units from the Oceanside Police and Fire Department responded to a reported vehicle into a power pole on southbound El Camino Real at Vista Oceana. Fire Department units arrived five minutes later to find a single vehicle had left the roadway and struck a power pole broadside on the driver’s side.

Upon investigation, it was found the solo occupant was trapped in the vehicle with major damage and the vehicle was perched on the edge of a steep embankment with a several hundred foot drop. Additionally, the power pole had been broken off approximately six feet above the ground due to the impact, compromising the stability of the live power lines running directly above the scene.
Crews stabilized the vehicle to ensure it did not slide down the embankment and began the process of disentangling the mid 40’s female driver from her vehicle. After 32 minutes of work, the driver was finally freed from the vehicle and quickly transported by Fire Department paramedics to the Oceanside Airport where a waiting Mercy Air helicopter took her to Scripps La Jolla.
A total of 14 firefighters staffing two engines, one ladder truck, one ambulance, a squad and a chief’s vehicle responded to the scene. San Diego Gas and Electric was notified of the incident and will be working to replace the damaged power pole. Currently, Southbound El Camino real is shut down from Mission Avenue to Mesa Drive in what could be a several hour closure.