CHP: Driver hits wild pig, crashes on Highway 128

A crash into a power pole that closed rural Highway 128 in northeastern Sonoma County on Tuesday morning for two hours occurred when a driver hit a dead wild pig in the roadway, the CHP said.

Driver Daniel Gatdula, 35, of Sacramento came upon a huge boar, hit it, lost control and crashed into a utility pole, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said in a news release.

The pole fell across the road, pulling down high-voltage wires and knocking out power to 77 households in the Knights Valley area outside of Calistoga.

Gatdula had been westbound in his Mazda 3 at about 6:30 a.m when he came upon the animal near La Franci Creek, Sloat said.

The CHP closed the highway and diverted traffic.