Woman injured, pole damaged

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, June 27, 2007

A 42-year-old Oak Harbor woman was cited for driving under the influence of prescription medicine and reckless endangerment after a car vs. power pole accident Monday morning.

Gayle Zachaukirk was driving north on Highway 20 in a Ford Escape. As she drove past Monroe Landing Road, she veered off the road at approximately 6:55 a.m. and collided with a power pole near New Covenant Fellowship Church.

The Escape struck the pole on the vehicle’s front passenger side. It spun around the pole and came to a rest facing southeast, said Trooper Tim Yzaguirre with the Washington State Patrol.

Zachaukirk was transported to Whidbey General Hospital where she was in satisfactory condition.

A 3-year-old boy was in the SUV with Zachaukirk. He was not injured.

Trooper Yzaguirre said Zachaukirk had apparently taken prescription medication that had impaired her ability to drive.

The collision damaged a pole used to support a taller one across the street.

However, the crash didn’t affect power service, according to a Puget Sound Energy spokesman.

Highway 20 was closed for approximately 90 minutes while work crews repaired the damage.

Traffic was detoured at Miller and Monroe Landing roads during the repair work.