Cedar Rapids road will be blocked for several hours

CEDAR RAPIDS - Authorities will have 11th St. SW blocked off between 15th Ave. SW and 16th Ave. SW for several hours Saturday, after a minivan struck an Alliant Energy utilities pole.

According to police, the minivan was traveling southbound on 11th St. SW, when the driver told police she swerved to miss an animal in the roadway and struck the pole at about 12:35 p.m.

Three people were in the car at the time of the accident, and no one was injured, police said.

Police said the pole - a junction for multiple utilities - is badly splintered and Alliant Energy officials said it will need to be replaced.

Alliant Energy arrived on the scene shortly after 1 p.m. to start replacing the pole. Alliant officials said they will have to shut down the lines in order to safely work on the pole.

Less than 100 customers in the pole's immediate area will experience a power outage while the pole is fixed, Alliant officials said.