A man who was flown to the hospital with serious injuries in a
vehicle accident Wednesday is still in critical condition.
A man who was flown to the hospital with serious injuries in a vehicle accident Wednesday is still in critical condition.
James Flanigan, 61 of San Leandro, the driver in the single-vehicle crash near the intersection of Monterey Road and East Middle Avenue, was still on life support at press time, and might have suffered spinal injuries, according to Sgt. Jerry Neumayer.
The accident also damaged a utility pole, resulting in power outages in the area, and shutting down Monterey Road’s two southbound lanes until about 10 p.m.
The crash was reported about 10:45 a.m. A silver two-door Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was traveling south on Monterey Road when it crashed into a tree and then rolled into the PG&E pole on the east side of the road, Neumayer said.
Flanigan had to be cut from the wreckage with hydraulic tools and was in “serious condition” when police and paramedics arrived at the scene, Neumayer said. He suffered a broken wrist, a broken leg and other injuries. Flanigan was flown to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. He was the wrecked vehicle’s only occupant.
An electricity transformer atop the utility pole into which the truck collided was damaged. Two traffic lights on Monterey Road – one at the intersection of Middle Avenue and one at the intersection of John Wilson Way – went out due to the damage. Police did not receive any reports of residential or commercial power outages in the area.
Monterey Road was closed for several hours following the accident. Starting in the early afternoon, police directed traffic through the two northbound lanes until about 10 p.m., while PG&E crews repaired the power lines and turned the traffic lights back on.
Police do not know the cause of the accident. Neumayer said witnesses at the scene reported seeing the truck swerving before the accident. No other vehicles were involved.
