A police officer narrowly avoided being hit by a falling pole as he drove underneath it on an icy Illinois highway last Friday (12 January). The officer was responding to a crash on Route 83 when a car to his left lost control in the snow and struck a centre highway pole, which began falling over the police vehicle just as he passed underneath. He managed to avoid the pole, and no-one was injured in the crash, Elmhurst Police Department said. “This close call shows why drivers need to reduce speed and drive cautiously during severe winter weather,” authorities added.