RICHMOND, R. I. - - A 24-year-old Wakefield woman was killed early Friday morning on Route 138 after the car she was driving struck a utility pole and a tree.
Richmond police identified her as Sierra S. Stanton.
The crash happened directly across the street from the Richmond Elementary School, according to the Richmond police.
The crashed downed power lines, which knocked out power along Route 138 into Wyoming.
National Grid arrived shortly after the crash to work on restoring power. Traffic is being detoured both west and east of the scene, and will remain in place until the power lines are secured and power is restored.
The accident was reported around 1:30 a.m. Stanton was driving a 2004 Volvo S-60 west on Route 138 (Kingstown Road) as she approached a curve, at which point the car traveled left of center, across the eastbound lane, ans left the road.
The driver's side of the vehicle collided with the utility pole, sheering it near the base, and then struck a large tree. The vehicle spun from the impact with the tree and crashed into a highway sign, coming to a rest on the grass embankment across from the main entrance to the Elementary School.
Corporal Justin Vachon, who had just completed a routine building check at the
Elementary School, heard the collision and went across the street within seconds. He found Stanton by herself in her car with no signs of life. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Stanton was wearing her seat belt, and the airbags in her vehicle did deploy.