Updated at 2:08 p.m. Nearly all of those in the affected area got their lights turned on this morning.

An alleged drunk driver let the world know that this New Year's Eve was a rager, authorities say.

The suspect crashed into two power poles in El Segundo and left several thousand locals without power for some of the New Year's Day holiday, cops said.

In fact …

… 596 folks in the area were still without power last night, according to Southern California Edison.

It all started at 2:39 a.m. yesterday at El Segundo Blvd and Sheldon Street when a driver hit two power poles, El Segundo police said in a statement. Lines went down, SCE stated.


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The large power outage affected residents from El Segundo Boulevard to Imperial Avenue, police said. About 4,337 customers celebrated the first day of 2014 in the dark, but most of those customers have seen the lights go back on.

Southern California Edison stated that power would probably be back for all early this morning. “We are in the process of completing repairs,” the utility stated.

Police say the driver, who was not identified, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Even as power was restored, “intermittent power outages” were expected and traffic lights could be in and out of service on El Segundo Boulevard near Sheldon Street, cops said.

This motorist might just owe the good people of El Segundo an apology.

The suspect is innocent until proven guilty. But if he or she is convicted — with the cost of a DUI estimated to be more than $15,000 these days — it could give new meaning to the lyric, I left my wallet in El Segundo.

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