OAKHURST – A Fresno man was arrested for DUI this afternoon after a single vehicle accident on Road 426.
Aram Atikian, 65, was westbound on 426 in a 1988 Cadillac El Dorado at about 3:42 p.m., when he failed to negotiate a curve just west of Oakridge Drive, crossed over the eastbound lane and up onto the bank where he hit a large rock, according to CHP.
Atikian then overcorrected, came down off the bank, crossed the road again and smashed into a power pole, sheering it in half. Still moving, the vehicle again crossed both lanes of traffic, this time running up against the bank and coming to a stop.
The smell of alcohol in the vehicle was pronounced, and there were empty beer and wine containers inside.
The driver’s level of intoxication was obvious to CHP officers on the scene, and he was taken into custody, charged with DUI. Atikian was not injured in the crash, and no other vehicles were involved.
Cal Fire responded to the scene, and implemented traffic control while the car was removed from the roadway.
PG&E was also called due to the hanging power lines. PG&E reports that the power was not knocked out due to the accident, and that they will notify affected residents of a planned power outage when they replace the power pole.
