Driving comes with its risks. Even when you’re focused, alert, and doing everything right, you still share the road with people who speed, swerve, drink, text, or ignore what’s happening around them.
Sometimes, though, the danger isn’t that subtle.
That’s precisely what one man showed in a viral Facebook Reel that got more than 25,800 likes and over 3,500 comments. In the clip, someone films while driving behind an 18-wheeler that appears to have driven straight through a traffic light pole and kept going.
The entire pole now spans the truck's roof as it continues down the road.
Cars approaching from the opposite direction can be seen actively swerving out of the way as the truck moves forward, dragging the massive piece of infrastructure along. “The pole didn’t belong there anyway,” Trucker Pax joked in the caption.
The video appears to have first appeared on TikTok, posted by user @sigmaboy907426828740, who tagged the location as Warren County, New Jersey.
What Actually Happens If You Hit a Pole?
Hitting a pole while driving is legally considered an accident, whether it’s a telephone pole, utility pole, traffic signal, or another fixed object. It doesn’t matter whether it happens while speeding, reversing, swerving, or trying to avoid another hazard on the road.
Once a pole is struck, the driver must report it.
First, police need to be called. Even if the damage looks minor, a damaged pole, especially one tied to power lines, can carry serious risks, including electrical hazards for the driver and everyone nearby. Drivers are advised to stay inside their vehicles until authorities arrive if a power line is involved.
The driver also needs to notify their insurance company as soon as possible. Any damage to the pole itself is considered property damage, and responsibility typically falls on the driver who caused it.
If a driver leaves the scene after hitting a pole without reporting it, the situation can escalate into a hit-and-run offense. That applies even in parking lots. Fleeing the scene can also put an insurance claim at risk, since police reports often play a key role in claims investigations.
Who Pays for the Damage?
In most cases, the driver who hits a pole is financially responsible for the damage. Since traffic signals and utility poles are usually owned by the city, county, or a local utility company, those agencies can seek compensation for repairs.
Whether insurance covers the damage depends on the type of policy the driver carries.
If the driver only has basic liability insurance, that coverage generally pays for damage to the pole, but not for repairs to the driver’s own vehicle.
If the driver has collision coverage, that can help cover the cost of repairing or replacing their own vehicle after hitting a pole. Liability coverage still applies to the damaged property itself.
Drivers under the influence at the time of impact face more serious consequences. Hitting a pole while impaired can lead to criminal charges, not just a traffic citation.
Will Hitting a Pole Raise Insurance Rates?
In many cases, yes. If the driver files a claim and receives compensation, insurance premiums often increase at the next renewal. That’s especially likely if the damage proves extensive or if the driver gets a citation tied to the incident.
Insurers track these claims and use them to recalculate risk. Rates can eventually drop again, but only if the driver avoids future violations and accidents.
Commenters Can’t Believe What They’re Seeing
While the situation itself raises serious safety questions, viewers in the comments section leaned heavily into shock, disbelief, and dark humor.
“It’s to warn traffic when it’s turning,” one person joked.
“That traffic light has been following me for two miles now,” another wrote.
“Doesn’t look like the light is red, he doesn’t have to stop,” someone else added.
“He’s getting out of Dodge and dispose of the evidence,” another commenter said.
“Between the turbine and cell phone conversation on his headset, he’s completely oblivious,” one person joked.
Motor1 has reached out to Trucker Pax via direct messages on Facebook and Instagram. This story will be updated if he responds.
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