shattered glass, unstable lamp post don't walk sign

Subject: shattered glass, unstable lamp post & don't walk sign

I noticed quite a scene this morning on the corner of 5th and 10th, in front of Astoria Savings Bank. There was a lamp post that looked a little knocked around, with the "don't walk sign" hanging off, the box that counts people that walk by (don't know the name of it...) ripped apart, shattered glass, and caution tape around the whole crazy thing.

Now... I assume a car hit the pole.... but what explains the oatmeal like substance poured all over the street (like the stuff the janitors used to use in grade school when a kid puked) and the big dousing of white paint on the sidewalk/curb?

so... what happened, and when? and more importanly, how did i miss all of this???