Waterford — A car accident that occurred Friday morning on Route 85 near the Waterford Speedbowl still was causing "chaotic" traffic backups Friday evening on a back road parallel to the turnpike.

"I've lived here for 50 years and I've never seen what's happened (today)," Margaret Ormond, who lives on Butlertown Road, which parallels Route 85, said Friday evening in a voicemail left with The Day. "We're talking trucks, everything that goes on (Route 85) and it's now all on this little back road. And this has been going on all day. Right now, it's chaotic and it's a wonder there hasn't been a big accident." Attempts to reach her for further comment Friday night were unsuccessful.

Because a vehicle had crashed into a power pole on Route 85, the Waterford Police Department said on its Facebook page on Friday morning that the pole needed to be replaced and therefore the road would be closed. Drivers were advised to avoid the area, if possible, or take detours from Lakes Pond and Way Hill roads.

About 7:30 p.m., Waterford police said by phone that the pole still was in the process of being replaced, but electricity had been restored to the area.

The accident resulted in minor injuries to the driver, the single occupant of the vehicle, according to the Waterford police Facebook page.

Police did not give a timeframe for when that stretch of Route 85 would be open again.