By NANCY TERWELP
Herald-Whig Staff Writer

A pickup truck driver and a Quincy police officer were trapped in their vehicles at about 1:40 a.m. today after the pickup hit and sheered a utility pole near 21st and Maine.

Neither driver was injured, but power was lost to some customers in the area. AmerenCIPS says electric service was out for 240 customers after the accident was restored to all but five by 3:30 a.m. The five left without power had their service restored late after the damaged transformer on the pole that was hit was replaced.

Police said live power lines from the sheered pole came down on Spencer K. Garcia's 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck after the head-on impact.

Quincy police were dispatched to the scene, and when the officer arrived in the darkened area at 21st and East Avenue, he could not see the downed line and drove under it. The line was arcing on top of the squad car when Quincy Fire Department personnel arrived, police said.

Both drivers were trapped in their vehicles until an AmerenCIPS crew arrived. There was major damage to the pickup truck, but no damage to the squad car, police said.

"The transformer was sparking and leaking fluid when Engine 6 arrived," Assistant Fire Chief James Pioch said. "We initially sent one engine to the scene, but Engine 6 firefighters called for rescue when they evaluated the circumstances.

"It appeared the officer drove up on the scene not seeing the downed power line in the dark until it was too late."

Fire personnel were on the scene until 4:17 a.m. Traffic in the area was blocked until 6:10 a.m., police said.

Garcia, 33, of 1725 Spring, told police he passed out because of medical problems as he was driving west on Maine. He crossed to the opposite side of the street and struck the utility pole on the south side of Maine near 21st and East Avenue.

Garcia, who was wearing his seat belt, was ticketed on charges of improper lane use and driving without a valid drivers license.

--nterwelp@whig.com/221-3364