MONTGOMERY – David W. Hester, 65, of Montgomery, is in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center in Daville after he crashed his vehicle into a utility pole Sunday afternoon, February 29 according to Justine Gillespie, public relations administrator for Geisinger.

The crash occurred at the intersection of routes 54 and 15, state police reported.

Hester was driving west on Route 54 when his vehicle hit a mailbox then drove over a bump in the road that sent his vehicle airborne, state police reported. The vehicle then hit a curb in a parking lot, then drove onto Route 15 across the highway into the southbound lane, according to state police. It then continued off the road and hit a utility pole, state police said.

Power lines that were brought down due to the crash resulted in the temporary closing of Route 15 in both directions, according to the state Department of Transportation. There was a detour for both lanes until 8 p.m.

Power was out in the area from 5:10 p.m. Sunday until nearly 5 a.m. Monday, said Teri MacBride, regional affairs director for PPL Electric Utilities.