NEWSOMS—Nearly 500 people were without power for almost two hours Tuesday morning after a vehicle swiped an oncoming tractor-trailer and damaged a power pole.

The accident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on Virginia Route 671, General Thomas Highway, about 3,000 feet west of the intersection with Sunbeam Road.

Virginia State Police Trooper Chadwick Wayne Amburgey said Adam Blythe, a 25-year-old resident of Courtland, was driving a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo eastbound on 671 when he hit a tractor-trailer traveling in the opposite direction.

“He sideswiped the truck, lost control and hit the pole,” Amburgey, the investigating officer, said from the scene.

Amburgey said Blythe was the only passenger in the vehicle and received minor injuries. He was transported to Southampton Memorial Hospital and released. The truck driver was not injured.

Greg Cook, a spokesman for Community Electric Cooperative of Windsor, said one of the company’s power poles was damaged in the crash, which tripped a circuit and knocked out power to 478 customers, primarily in the Newsoms area. Power was restored by 12:15 p.m.

Cook said the company was planning to replace the power pole Tuesday, weather permitting.

Blythe was cited for reckless driving, Amburgey said.