Motorists will have to avoid downtown Ephraim until approximately 5 p.m. Monday because of an accident.

Ephraim Fire Chief Justin MacDonald alerted the community at about 12:30 p.m. that the crash had closed Highway 42 (Water Street) near Brodd Lane.

MacDonald says that it was a single-vehicle accident that required the driver to be taken to the hospital for addition treatment after he took out two utility poles, one of which is owned by Wisconsin Public Service.

While WPS crews replace the pole, Highway 42 will remain closed from Meadow Lane to Coral Hill Road until approximately 5 p.m. MacDonald kept open the possibility that the road may have to close again if the other utility pole needs to be replaced, but did not have a timeline as to when that might occur. The detour uses Meadow Lane and Coral Hill Road  two local roads to get around the closure.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.