Heather Pearce, 29, charged with DUI after crashing into power pole on Hawthorne Road in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

A Winston-Salem woman was charged with DWI after a crash into a utility pole downed power lines early Wednesday morning. Heather Pearce, 29, was cited following the collision around 2:50 a.m. in the 2000 block of Hawthorne Road just north of Forsyth Medical Center. Pearce was evaluated for injuries and was released pending a March 20 court appearance. Winston-Salem police said Pearce was driving in a 1994 Lincoln Contintental when she left the road and hit a utility pole. The pole had extensive damage, leading to downed power lines, police said. Police believe alcohol was a factor in the crash. Police asked drivers to avoid the area while repairs were completed by early afternoon. Only the immediate crash area was warned of potential power outages if needed to complete repairs.