Motorcyclist taken to hospital after crashing into light pole
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Theresa Oliver was trying to get to a beauty supply store before it closed Saturday evening.
She never made it.
Instead, she witnessed a motorcycle crash that split a utility pole in half.
"He was going 70 miles per hour," Oliver estimated. "I was behind him when he hit the pole. It looked like the Fourth of July because there were sparks coming out of the power lines."
The northbound lanes of Scott Street near Zephyr Street were blocked off by police. Before help arrived, neighbors directed traffic.
"There were people trying to drive over parts of the motorcycle," said Sherry Davis.
Davis lives next to the light pole that was taken out.
"I heard a boom, boom, and I grabbed my keys and my poodle to see what happened," Davis said.
She also grabbed her cellphone and recorded video of the immediate aftermath.
The bike appeared to have veered into a curb at a high rate of speed. From there, it hit the utility pole and broke apart.
Oliver said the rider went airborne.
He was wearing a helmet, but it may have fallen off after impact. The rider, who appeared to be in his 20s, was taken to Ben Taub Hospital in critical condition.
