An Italian man claimed to have dropped off at the wheel when he slammed into utility poles, leading to over 100 households suffering a blackout, in Ho Chi Minh City on the weekend.

Police have prepared files to deal with an accident where an Italian man crashed his seven-seater car into and broke five electric power poles in Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City on Saturday, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday.

The driver is 37 years old, owns a company in Thao Dien, and has lived in Vietnam for several years, the source said.

The Italian man said overwork had exhausted him so he fell asleep at the wheel before causing the crash.

He expressed his willingness to pay for the damages, to be calculated by a state electricity company.

The driver will also be subject to an administrative penalty.

“We’re waiting for calculations from the electricity company before preceeding with the case,” the source said.

At 4:00 am on Saturday, the Italian was driving on Nguyen U Di Street in Thao Dien when he veered off course and hit a utility pole on the sidewalk, breaking it, according to police reports.

His car continued slamming into four other electric power poles, grounding all of them, before coming to a halt.

One hundred and twenty-two households then suffered an ensuing power cut.

The car was badly damaged after the crash but the driver sustained minor injuries and managed to get out of the vehicle safe and sound.

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