Traffic signals at Sebastopol's main downtown intersection remained inoperative Tuesday afternoon after a driver smashed into a signal box there during the morning commute.
No crashes were reported due to the lack of lights, Sgt. Ken Troutfetter said.
No one was injured in the morning crash.
Driver Terence Kelley, 55, of Sebastopol told officers the accelerator of his 1998 Nissan pickup became stuck and he couldn't stop as he approached downtown Sebastopol early Tuesday, Troutfetter said.
At about 7:20 a.m. Kelley drove up onto a sidewalk and sideswiped a bank building then smashed into the signal control box, Troutfetter said.
The truck travelled several dozen feet along the sidewalk before being stopped by the heavy signal box.
"He negotiated between the Bank of the West, several trees and some traffic control signs," he said. "There was minimal damage to the building."
The impact shoved the box into a traffic lane. A Sebastopol public works crew used a back hoe to move it back to the sidewalk.
A Caltrans crew was expected to repair the signal Tuesday afternoon. The signal box controls lights for the intersection, which also is known as Highway 12 as it crosses Highway 116 and is in the heart of town.
Initial reports indicated two police officers were directing traffic early Tuesday. Troutfetter, however, said officers didn't direct traffic due to legal reasons, instead letting drivers fall into the pattern of stopping and taking turns.
Complaints about the lack of traffic lights were frequent and drivers unhappy, officers said.
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