Part of Route 1 in Arundel was closed for several hours and power in the area was knocked out after a car struck and broke a utility pole Saturday morning.
York County Sheriff William King said that James Spear, 57, of Old Orchard Beach was dragged to safety by a man and his two sons, who broke the window on his vehicle to help him. King said the witnesses thought the smoke filling the vehicle was caused by a fire when in fact it was emitted by air bags deploying.
Spear’s vehicle rolled over before it struck the utility pole about 8:10 a.m. in the 1400 block of Portland Road, King said. Live wires were strewn around the road.
Spear was taken to Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The road was closed for more than four hours.
King said Spear was driving south when he fell asleep at the wheel.
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