Truck driver from Illinois accused of crashing into Jefferson City light pole

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A truck driver from Illinois is accused of causing $50,000 in damage after he allegedly crashed a semi-truck into an Ameren light pole on July 15 in Jefferson City.

Philip Kahn, of Pekin, Illinois, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26. A summons was issued for Kahn on Tuesday.

The probable cause statement says a semi-truck hit an Ameren pole at the corner of West High Street and Bolivar Street. Police were called at 7:09 a.m. and the intersection was still closed at 3:30 p.m. that day. Ameren indicated there was $50,000 in damage caused, court documents say.

Video footage helped police determine the truck was owned by a company from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the statement says. The safety manager gave police the GPS location of Kahn, the statement says.

Kahn allegedly admitted to hitting the curb, but claimed he did not know he hit a light pole, court documents say.

“In my training and experience, it is unlikely the defendant did not know the damage to the pole had occurred,” the officer wrote in the statement. “In addition, the crash was seen and heard by Jefferson City Fire personnel from across the street. Fire personnel stated the defendant continued driving without stopping.”