A San Diego DUI - drunk driver allegedly crashed into a telephone pole early Thursday morning, prompting officials to consider closing nearby Highway 78 due to concerns about downed electrical wires, San Diego DUI lawyers said.

Ultimately, though, the officials kept the highway open after electrical crews stabilized wires on both sides of the highway, said San Diego DUI attorneys.

The one-car crash occurred just before 2 a.m., Ray said. Steven Stewart, Jr., a 25-year-old U.S. Marine and Vista resident, apparently sped through a stop sign at Pomelo Drive while heading west on Hacienda Drive, San Diego DUI lawyers said.

He then veered into the eastbound lane and ran his car, a 2003 Nissan Maxima, off the north side of the road and into a roadside telephone pole which sheared off and came to rest atop his car, San Diego DUI attorneys said. Another nearby telephone pole sustained damage from being hit by the first pole, he said. Electrical lines running from the poles overhang Highway 78, San Diego DUI lawyers said.

Stewart and a passenger suffered only minor injuries but were both charged with criminal offenses. Stewart was booked into Vista Jail on a misdemeanor drunken-driving charge, while his unnamed passenger was charged with public drunkenness, San Diego DUI attorneys said.

Crews from San Diego Gas & Electric Co. responded to the scene, Ray said. The task of repairing the wires was made more difficult because the telephone pole was resting atop Stewart's car, he said. Crews fixed the wires and may do additional work in the near future, San Diego DUI lawyers are told.


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