Light pole crashes into man's car on I-93

QUINCY, Mass. — A Wrentham man's car was totaled in a freak accident on the expressway Thursday morning.

Bill Sprague was driving on I-93 north near exit 12 when a light pole came crashing down on his car.

Sprague said it was just before 5 a.m. when he spotted the light pole flying through the air out of the corner of his eye.

“It was like a missile coming at me you know, and my first reaction was to hit the brakes because I'm not going to make it past it because it was coming right at my door, you know. So when I hit the brake I still didn't escape it. But I still got my head, you know?” he said.

It’s still unclear what caused the pole to come crashing down, but Sprague said he’s working with his insurance and hoping for a rental car soon.

MassDOT said in a statement the light pole as well as about 120 others had been identified based on age and style as light poles that need to be replaced. The planning and bidding had begun for their replacement.

"Because of today's incident, out an abundance of caution, MassDOT crews will be inspecting I-93 light poles in this area late tonight and those inspections will include a visual and a non-destructive test to verify metal thickness and quality of existing base welds," a statement to FOX25 said.

As investigators look into the cause of the accident, MassDOT crews are inspecting other light poles in that area of the Expressway to ensure others are not at risk of falling.

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