Power was cut off to areas of Mitchell Road's business district and major traffic jams occurred after a driver nodded off behind the wheel after going on a meth binge and struck a power pole, Ceres Police said.

"It took nearly every police officer working we had on duty to handle the traffic control," said Ceres Police Department spokesman Lt. Chris Perry.

Turlock Irrigation District and Charter Cable TV crews worked into the evening to replace the wooden pole near Dale Road and restore electrical service following the 12:58 p.m. crash on Thursday.

Perry said Rudy Guzman was driving southbound on Mitchell Road in a tan Chrysler convertible when he lost control, crossed over into the northbound lanes and into a power pole. The crash caused the power lines to come down and started a fire to grass and some bushes. Initially the power pole caught on fire, too.

Perry considered it amazing that Guzman did not hit any vehicles as he crossed into the oncoming lanes of traffic.

TID and Charter Cable were out the rest of the day fixing the damage.

Guzman was arrested and charged with DUI.