Driver charged after wreck forces closure of US 401 in Garner

Luis Rene Ruiz Olivia, of 5811 Horse Shoe Drive, is charged with driving while impaired, provisional driving while impaired and careless and reckless driving.

Authorities say Olivia slammed into a power pole at about 3 a.m. near the intersection of U.S. 401 and Mechanical Boulevard, causing power lines to fall into the roadway.

Olivia and a passenger in his pickup truck were taken to WakeMed. The passenger's name has not been released, but authorities said Olivia and the passenger were conscious when they were taken to the hospital.

Power was out in the area following the wreck, including at the intersection of U.S. Highway 70 and Mechanical Boulevard. Lights at that intersection were restored a short time after the wreck, but those at U.S. 401 and Mechanical were still out after 5 a.m.

U.S. 401, which is heavily used during the morning commute into Raleigh, was closed throughout the morning commute and reopened at about 10:50 a.m.