Three people narrowly escaped a house fire on Wednesday morning after a pickup truck crashed into a utility pole near their home in Lehigh County, according to state police. The incident occurred just after 9 a.m. in the 3400 block of Bellview Road in North Whitehall Township, as reported by Trooper Nathan Branosky, spokesman for the Troop M barracks.
The accident involving a Dodge pickup truck caused a power line to break loose from the utility pole, sparking a fire at the front of the residence, Branosky explained. Fortunately, the three occupants managed to escape the burning house on their own without suffering any injuries. Crews from the Neffs Volunteer Fire Company quickly responded to extinguish the blaze.
The single-vehicle accident and subsequent fire did not result in any reported injuries. However, the mishap did cause temporary power outages affecting approximately 500 homes in the area.
The driver of the Dodge pickup truck was issued citations for multiple summary traffic violations, including careless driving. The Pennsylvania State Police in Bethlehem, along with North Whitehall fire officials, are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding both the accident and the fire.
