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A wild crash in Upshur County, West Virginia, ended with a Ford F-150 upside-down against a power pole. Here’s what happened.

Just after 1:30 a.m. on Monday, April 7, first responders were called to a wreck near 3220 Old Elkins Road. When they arrived, they found a gray F-150 that had apparently launched off the road at high speed, mowing down a tree, several mailboxes, a chain-link fence, a gate, and finally a utility pole. The truck came to rest suspended on the power lines of that Mon Power pole, cutting electricity to part of the county.

The F-150 driver, identified as Joshua Paul Woods, didn’t leave much mystery about what happened. According to deputies, he admitted to drinking a 12-pack of beer and showed clear signs of intoxication, including heavily slurred speech. Emergency crews transported him to St. Joseph’s Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the car accident.

What’s next for the F-150 driver?

Woods is likely facing DUI charges, along with citations for reckless driving and property damage. In West Virginia, a DUI offense involving damage to public infrastructure – like a power pole – can come with steep fines, license suspension, and potential jail time.

Then there’s the money. Damaging personal property is one thing, but taking down a utility pole and knocking out power to the community? That’s going to get expensive. And don’t expect his insurance to swoop in and save the day. Most auto policies have zero tolerance for DUI-related claims. If intoxication caused the crash, coverage can be denied entirely.

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Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Kennedy

Sarah Kennedy is the Editor-in-Chief of MotorBiscuit. She joined the team as Managing Editor in 2021 and has more than 20 years of automotive and operations expertise. She held ASE certifications as an Automotive Service Consultant and Parts Specialist and was a licensed car salesperson for many years. Sarah often focuses on helping drivers navigate used car buying and vehicle ownership. She created “Shop Smarts,” a column for MOTOR Magazine, and was a contributor there for eight years. Her work earned her a Gold Medalist award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors in 2014 and Bronze Medalist awards from the International Automotive Media Competition in 2014 and 2015. She attended the Automotive Management Institute and earned her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.