Distracted Driver Crashes Into Power Pole on Campo Road — Live Wires Fall Onto Vehicle

Jamul Calif. — November 3, 2025, 10:56 p.m. — A driver was fortunate to escape injury Monday night after crashing into a power pole on Campo Road near Jefferson Street, knocking down live electrical lines and prompting an overnight closure while crews worked to make the scene safe.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the crash involved a single vehicle that struck a wooden utility pole, causing it to snap and send energized wires onto the car. The driver managed to self-extricate before firefighters and law enforcement arrived — a decision that authorities say could have been fatal under different circumstances.

The man told CHP he had just left his home and was struggling to see through fogged-up windows. He said he was running the defroster, but his windshield wasn’t fully clear when the crash occurred. DUI was not considered a factor, according to investigators.

SDG&E crews were dispatched to repair the downed lines and restore service to affected customers. As of 12:30 a.m., they had an estimated four-hour arrival time, and Campo Road remained closed while crews worked.

Authorities used the incident to remind drivers that if you crash into power lines or electrical equipment, you should stay inside your vehicle unless there’s an immediate danger such as fire. A car touching live wires can become electrically charged, and stepping out can result in serious injury or death.

Officials pointed to a tragic August 26, 2023 crash in the Webster neighborhood of San Diego, where a female passenger was electrocuted after exiting a vehicle that had struck an electrical box. That case remains a stark reminder of how dangerous it can be to leave a vehicle in contact with energized power sources.

In this latest Jamul incident, CHP said the driver was extremely lucky to walk away unharmed.