Cape Wide News for Thursday February 25th, 2010

CWN Storm Team coverage of the February storm
CAPE COD - A strong storm is bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the Cape along with coastal concerns. CWN will have continuing coverage. NWS local storm damage reports
For continuing coverage see our Friday edition here
11:30 PM update: An eyelike feature passed over the area about 10:30 p.m. with the moon visible for a time. Winds which had gusted out of the east to 54 MPH in Provincetown have turned more southerly. Several reports of down trees and limbs including a large one in West Barnstable that blocked up the intersection of Route 6A and Route 132. NStar continues to work on scattered outages across the region.

9:30 p.m. update: Winds have gusted to 53 MPH in the last half hour. NStar is reporting scattered power outages in various parts of the Cape. High tide this evening caused some street flooding in the usual trouble spots in Provincetown. A Yarmouth police officer was taken to Cape Cod Hospital with minor injuries after his cruiser struck a utility pole on West Yarmouth Road shortly before 7 p.m. Heavy rain may have been a factor in the crash which is under investigation.

Woman arrested after bizarre outer Cape chase
PROVINCETOWN - (This is a combined press release from Provincetown and Truro Police) At 3:22 a.m., on Thursday, February 25, 2010, Provincetown police officer Scott Peters and Sgt. Carrie Lopes attempted to stop a Blue Jeep Compass for traveling westbound in the wrong lane of Route 6 near Herring Cove Beach. Despite use of lights and sirens, the operator of the vehicle, later identified as Elizabeth Zimmerman, 30, of Winchester MA, failed to stop and continued driving at slow speed the wrong way down Commercial St. in Provincetown.

The vehicle stopped briefly in the area of West Vine and Commercial Sts. but Zimmerman was unresponsive to police commands and continued to drive away from the area. Officers followed the vehicle along Route 6 into Truro.

Truro Police Officer Craig Danziger deployed "Stop Sticks" to deflate the tires on the Jeep Compass. The driver continued on a short distance on two flat tires again reportedly driving for a time on the wrong side of the highway. The vehicle was finally stopped and the driver taken into custody just past the Highland Road exit on Route 6 westbound.

Zimmerman was not responsive to police commands. Police officers gained Zimmerman’s attention by hitting the drivers door window. She opened the car door and was taken into custody. Wellfleet police also assisted in stopping the vehicle.

Zimmerman was transported to the Provincetown Police station where she was booked on the following charges: Operating negligently to endanger, Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, one way street violation, marked lanes violation and failure to stop for police. During booking, police became aware that Zimmerman was reported as missing and endangered. She was transported to Cape Cod Hospital for evaluation and was bailed to appear in Orleans District Court at a date next week.

This is the first time Truro Police deployed Stop Stick. Stop Stick units were acquired by the Truro Police over 4 years ago so that pursuits could be ended safely and quickly. “The goal of having Stop Sticks is to protect people and prevent property damage. Our priority is safety. Officer Danziger took quick action and worked with Provincetown Officers in preventing what could have been a much more serious incident”, Lt. John Lundborn said. No injuries and no property damage occurred. According to StopTech Ltd, makers of Stop Stick tire deflation devices, police departments are using them in all 50 states and around the globe, preventing property damage and saving lives, including their own. Over 150,000 police vehicles are equipped with Stop Stick worldwide and more than 16,000 pursuits ended safely.
Photo by Tim Caldwell/CWN

Car vs pole closes Route 130 in Sandwich
SANDWICH - A car vs pole crash shut down Route 130 in Sandwich overnight. The crash happened about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, leaving the pole shattered and live wires in the street, and power knocked out in the area..

The driver, Michael Jusseaume, 28, of Mashpee was taken to Falmouth Hospital with unknown injuries. He was cited by Sandwich Police for speeding.

Route 130 was closed between Snake Pond Road/Pimlico Pond Road and Artisan Way as NStar crews made repairs.

Sandwich Police are investigating the crash.

Aerial courtesy of Google Earth

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