PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- A driver suffered serious injuries Wednesday following the crash of a sports utility vehicle into an electric transmission pole.

Pierre Police Captain Bryan Walz says Central South Dakota Communications received a call around one-pm Wednesday of a vehicle that struck the pole on the south side of Fourth Street near Mickelson Pond.

Responding officers located the driver trapped inside the S-U-V.

The transmission pole was energized at the time, carrying 115-thousand volts of electricity.  The pole was sheared at the base and leaning severely to the south, away from the road.

The Pierre Electric Department had to reroute power from the line before the Pierre Rescue Squad could begin the 45 minute process of removing the victim from the vehicle.

The driver, who was the only occupant, was then transported to Avera St. Mary’s hospital.

Fourth Street was closed until just before 11 pm to replace the pole.  A damage estimate is pending.

Walz says it is believed the driver suffered from a medical condition before the crash, however the investigation remains ongoing.

Assisting Pierre Police were the Hughes County Sheriff, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Pierre Fire, A-M-R Ambulance and street and electric departments from the City of Pierre.