A Denver truck driver who allegedly hit a power pole on Commerce Drive Thursday in Bayfield, then drove away, was stopped by the Colorado State Patrol on his way to Pagosa Springs.
The driver, Vladimir Bulgakov, told the Bayfield Marshal's Office he had hit a curb, but didn't know he ran into the pole.
The incident was reported to the marshal's office at 12:36 p.m. Thursday. The collision and subsequent fire in the pole cut off power to 63 customers in the area, including Mini Merc, the Pine Cone, and Community Bank of Colorado.
The snapped pole fell into a nearby aspen tree and was on fire. LPEA crews de-energized the line at 1:24 p.m. and had it repaired by 5:43 p.m., said LPEA Spokeswoman Indiana Reed.
"He said he didn't know he hit the pole," said Marshal Joe McIntyre. But people who witnessed the incident told deputies the truck was hauling a King Soopers trailer. The Colorado State Patrol stopped Bulgakov en route to Pagosa Springs, saw damage to his truck, and escorted him back to Bayfield. Drugs and alcohol did not appear to be a factor, McIntyre said. The driver told police he had made a delivery in Cortez and was not feeling well as he was driving east, so he pulled into Bayfield looking for an urgent care clinic.
Bulgakov, 59, was cited for leaving the scene of an accident and careless driving. He works for Brisk Transportation, which is based in Aurora.
