A vehicle accident Tuesday near the intersection of Washington and Saratoga streets knocked out power to part of downtown — including the Suffolk News-Herald building — for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

The wreck happened at 4 p.m. and pulled a utility pole and electrical wires into the 100 block of South Saratoga Street. A sheriff’s deputy, who was the first emergency responder on the scene, tussled with and handcuffed one of the occupants of the car.

The pole came to a rest leaning up against the car. Overhead wires continued raining sparks for several minutes after the accident.

Police officers ordered curious observers off the street and into nearby buildings to prevent them from being injured by the falling sparks. Police and fire vehicles blocked off South Saratoga Street from Washington to Smith streets.

Dominion Virginia Power arrived to assess the damage. Preliminary estimates indicated power might not be restored for about six to eight hours after the accident.