Motorist Downs Pole on Cedar Hill Ave.

A woman was hospitalized and Cedar Hill Avenue was obstructed for approximately an hour Tuesday after authorities responded to a car accident.

An elderly North Haledon couple were traveling past the Cedar Hill Plaza after 5 p.m. when the male driver became disoriented, left the roadway and struck a pole, authorities said. 

Wyckoff police Sgt. Daniel Kellogg and Lt. Charles Van Dyk said the 75-year-old driver wasn't hurt, but his 73-year-old wife was transported to Valley Hospital after experiencing minor back pain. Both the driver and passenger were wearing their seatbelts, and airbags were deployed, which the lieutenant and sergeant credited with saving the couple from serious injury.

Kellogg, who was at the scene, said the driver became disoriented by reflectors that sit on the roadway as it curves toward Sicomac Avenue. He struck and snapped a pole housing lamp fixtures, and the pole and associated wires came down across Cedar Hill Avenue.

The driver was not issued any summons.

Kellogg said the downed light fixture left live wires on the ground, which motorists drove over until police and fire responders could block off the area. Motorists were blocked from reaching Cedar Hill Plaza while authorities worked, but shoppers were able to exit and head toward Sicomac Avenue. Midland Park emergency services also responded to the scene, which took approximately an hour to clear.

The live wires prompted a visit by PSE&G. Beth Gill in the utility's media relations office said crews replaced the pole that evening. There were no power outages or interruptions, Gill said.