A quiet Sunday in southeast Raleigh turned chaotic when a single-vehicle crash on Barwell Road knocked down power lines and left hundreds of residents in the dark, according to police. The wreck, which happened near Holiday Drive, forced officers to shut down the roadway in both directions while utility crews hustled to make repairs. Despite the damage, officers at the scene reported no injuries. Drivers were asked to steer clear of the area and use alternate routes while crews worked around the downed lines.
Police and Utility Crews On Scene
As reported by CBS17, the Raleigh Police Department responded to the crash on Barwell Road near Holiday Drive after a car ran off the road into a wooded area. Officers said the vehicle hit trees and nearby equipment, which brought down power lines and created a hazardous scene for first responders. Police shut down the affected stretch of Barwell Road so crews could stage safely and figure out the extent of the damage.
Power Outage And Timeline
According to CBS17, Duke Energy reported that "about 465 customers" lost power after the crash. Officers at the scene estimated that Barwell Road would fully reopen around 4 p.m. Sunday while utility crews finished fixing the damaged lines. Workers stayed on site for several hours, securing poles and tightening up wiring before letting regular traffic back through.
Where This Happened
The collision took place on Barwell Road near Holiday Drive in southeast Raleigh, a stretch the city has already flagged for upgrades and utility coordination. The City of Raleigh's Barwell Road project page notes previous work with utilities such as Duke Energy to relocate and modernize power lines, a reminder that the existing poles and roadside wiring are still vulnerable when vehicles leave the pavement. Residents and commuters in the area may see occasional lane closures as that long-term upgrade work continues.
Safety And What To Do
Utility companies remind the public that any downed line should be treated as if it is live and dangerous. People are urged to keep a wide distance and wait for crews to declare the area safe. Duke Energy and other providers also continue to urge drivers to slow down and move over for workers operating close to traffic while these repairs are underway.
Traffic Impacts
Commuters were told to expect delays and detours around Barwell Road while the closure was in place and repairs were ongoing. WRAL has previously reported similar cases where crashes took out power poles and left nearby neighborhoods without electricity for hours, a reminder that this kind of cleanup is rarely quick. Police asked drivers to respect the barricades, follow posted detours, and avoid the area until crews cleared the scene.
