UPDATED: Pickup truck crash clogs traffic at Pasadena intersection; driver believed to have fallen asleep at the wheel

PASADENA >> The intersection of Lake Avenue and Villa Street in Pasadena is expected to be congested throughout the day as officials repair light posts and a bus bench destroyed in a solo-vehicle crash early Sunday, police said.
The crash occurred about 7:15 a.m. as an 18-year-old La Canada Flintridge man was driving a pickup truck south on Lake Avenue, just north of Villa Street, Pasadena police Lt. John Luna said.
“The driver fell asleep at the wheel, crossing traffic in a pickup truck, colliding with a bus bench and two light poles,” Luna said.
The car crossed over northbound traffic lanes before hitting the object along the east side of Lake Avenue, the lieutenant said. But no other vehicles were struck.
One light post was knocked down by the crash, and a second was also damaged, he said.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus bench struck by the pickup truck was “destroyed,” Luna said. “It was in pieces,
But despite the damage, the driver walked away from the crash with only minor abrasions, officials said.
A 37-year-old Pasadena man also suffered minor injuries when he slipped and fell while rishing to get out of the pickup truck’s way, Luna said.
Both the driver and pedestrian were treated by paramedics.
The driver was not cited or arrested at the scene, and intoxicated driving was not suspected, Luna said.
While the intersection was not closed entirely Sunday, heavy traffic was expected in the area as a result of the crash.
“The traffic accident with minor injuries near (Lake Avenue and Villa Street) will cause traffic backups and detours for the remainder of the day while city public works crews repair light standards and MTA repairs a bus bench,” police said in a written statement. “Consider Los Robles Avenue for north-south traffic and Orange Grove Blvd for east-west traffic.”

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