
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 3, 1994                   TAG: 9407030106
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Matt Chittum
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DRIVER STRIKES VEHICLE, POLE AND FLIPS CAR

A man who apparently had been drinking struck one vehicle and sheared off a utility pole before turning his car over on Ninth Street Southeast about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.

Roanoke Police Sgt. G.C. Hurley said the man, who had not yet been identified, hit a car driven by Diane Barnett of Logan, W.Va., at the intersection of Ninth Street and Riverland Road. He continued up Ninth Street toward Elm Avenue before striking a utility pole at the corner of Ninth and Morgan and flipping the car onto its roof.

Hurley was not sure of the severity of the man's injuries. He said the man had some cuts that were bleeding badly, and was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

No one in the other car was injured.

Hurley said the man was lying in the street next to the car when police arrived. Police found a half-empty bottle of wine and some empty beer cans in the car.

Hurley said the man, who was alone, said he wasn't driving.

Barnett said the car was traveling about 10 mph when it struck her car, but it sped up the hill when a patrol car sitting in traffic behind her turned on its flashing lights.

by CNB