Local News

A Grants Pass man is facing charges of impaired driving after he crashed a vehicle into a power pole near Westholm Park and deprived local residents of electricity.

The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers and emergency personnel were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash near the corner of SW Wildwood Avenue and G Street on Saturday at 10:40 a.m..

Police said residents in the area reported a small blue car speeding down the street before hitting a utility pole and dropping the pole and attached wires into the road. The callers said the car was upside-down and smoking. Residents worked to free the male driver from the wreckage. He was identified by police as "Rhett Bassett."

Witnesses said Bassett was traveling at about 60 miles per hour before he left the roadway, striking a retaining wall and cable box before fish-tailing across both travel lanes and striking the utility pole, completely severing it and knocking out power to the area. The suspect was extricated and transported to the hospital.

Bassett was interviewed at Three Rivers Medical Center and probable cause for impaired driving was established after a legal blood draw was completed.

Rhett Bassett was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. He was cited to appear in court and released to the care of hospital staff. His damaged car was impounded and Pacific Power crews arrived to restore electricity to affected customers. Service restoration took several hours.