Columbia police urge caution as crews work to repair utilities destroyed on busy road

A lane of traffic was closed and police were urging caution Thursday morning after a wreck destroyed a utility pole on a busy Columbia road.

“Please stay EXTRA alert on Broad River Rd. b/w Beatty Rd. & Connie Dr.,” the Columbia Police Department tweeted at 9:04 a.m. Thursday. “The eastbound lane is closed after an overnight collision significantly damaged a power pole. (Dominion Energy) is working to fix the malfunctioning traffic lights.”

Details of the crash were scarce as of mid-morning Thursday, but a photo shared by police showed a utility pole that had been sheared in half in the collision. It happened near the Shanti Plaza shopping center, which includes several businesses. A car wash also is located nearby.

The wreck site was northwest of Interstate 20, not far from St. Andrews Park. About 20,300 cars per day pass down that stretch of Broad River Road, per state traffic count data.