BELFAST - A mechanical problem was believed to be the cause of a single-vehicle accident on Swan Lake Avenue at 3 p.m. Friday that took down power lines and closed the road for a period.

The driver who was alone in the pick-up truck was traveling southbound on Swan Lake Avenue (Route 141) a half mile north of Back Searmont Road when he apparently lost control of his vehicle and went off the road, hitting a utility pole. The pole broke and came to rest across the hood of the truck leaving the power lines were stretched from the adjacent poles down to the road.

According to Belfast Police Office Brian Lunt, the man, who was uninjured, reported having recently had repairs made to the power steering of the truck. 

"He said he lost the feeling of steering in the wheel and drifted off to the left and hit the telephone pole," Lunt said.

Neighbors reported hearing the truck hit the pole.

"There was a bang and then the power went out," said one woman.

Traffic was detoured at the Back Searsport Road to the south, and at the Smart Road to the north while workers cleared the scene.

Penobscot Bay Pilot reporter Ethan Andrews can be reached at ethanandrews@penbaypilot.com