A car crash into a utility pole can be more dangerous than it first seems. The entire accident site could be energized from a downed wire, so assume all downed wires are energized, even if you think they may be phone or cable wires. If you hit a utility pole do not get out of your vehicle, especially if you see downed wires. There may be wires you can’t see. If your airbag has deployed, it may limit your vision, and an energized power line you can’t see may be on the ground. If you attempt to get out, you may be in grave danger.

What You Should Do After a Crash

• Call 911.
• Tell anyone who approaches your car to stay away.
• Wait for trained professionals to tell you when it’s safe to leave your vehicle.  Only leave the car if it’s on fire.

In Case of Fire, Exit Safely

The only time you should leave your car is if it’s on fire. This rarely happens, but if it does, there is a safe way to exit the vehicle: 

• Never touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.
• Instead, open the door, rotate your body until you are facing out, put both feet on the running board, hop out of the vehicle, landing both feet on the ground at the same time.
• Do not touch the car with your hands or arms as you jump. Keep your arms down by your side.

After you exit the vehicle, hop or shuffle to get away.

• Separating your feet can create two contact points with the ground and can result in a shock if the ground is energized by a fallen wire.
• Hop or shuffle away until you are at least 35 feet (about the length of a bus) from the vehicle and any downed power lines.
  • When hopping, keep your feet together. Don’t lift a foot to run or walk.
  • When shuffling, keep both feet as close together as you can while sliding your feet in tiny steps. Never lift a foot from the ground.

If you’ve crashed into a utility pole and someone tries to offer you assistance, tell them to stay away.

• Shout if you have to – they are in danger, too!
• Tell them to stay at least 35 feet away from the crash site and downed wires.
• Tell them you’ve already called 911 and help is on the way.

If you see someone else who has hit a utility pole with a vehicle, do not approach the crash.

• If you’re in your own vehicle, stay in it.
• If you’re on foot, stay at least 35 feet away.
• Shout at others to remain in their vehicle for their own safety.
• Call 911 immediately. Don’t wait to see if someone else has already called.
• If the occupants of the crashed vehicle begin to exit, shout at them to stay in the vehicle. Unless the car is on fire, they’ll be safe there until help arrives.

 If the crashed vehicle is on fire and you want to help from a distance.

• Stay at least 35 feet away from the crash and downed lines to keep out of an energized area.
• Shout instructions to help the crash victim to safely exit the vehicle:
  • Hop out of the car while not touching the vehicle.
  • Hopping or shuffling feet along the ground to exit the energized area.
  • See information above for more details on safely exiting a crashed vehicle when it is on fire.