Darwin Award loser- copper thief gets a jolt...

Neilk · 08-01-2008, 06:55 AM

Damn... almost. I hope he makes a quick exit so that us tax payers don't have to pay his medical bills.

Suspected copper thief severely burned on utility pole in Dallas

09:20 AM CDT on Friday, August 1, 2008

By EMILY TSAO / The Dallas Morning News

A man who may have been trying to steal copper wiring was severely burned on top of a utility pole this morning, Dallas Fire-Rescue said. His rescue was hindered because his flesh had melded with the metal on the pole.

Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Sherrie Lopez said the man had been hit with 7,620 volts, possibly twice.

A Dallas Fire-Rescue dispatcher said a passerby called about 5:30 a.m. to report that a man was on top of a utility pole and that wires were sparking above in the 800 block of Regal Row near the Irving border. Police said there had also been reports of power outages in the area.

When crews arrived, they found a person, who was burning, between transformers on the pole, police said.

Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Sherrie Lopez said the man had been hit with about 7,000 volts, possibly twice. The rescue of the man was hindered because his flesh had adhered to the metal components on the pole. Much of his clothes had either "burned off or blown off," she said.
800 block of Regal Row in Dallas

Crews were able to reach the man using a ladder from a fire truck and he was lowered shortly before 7 a.m. and taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital. He suffered third-degree burns and was burned on about 50 percent of his body, Ms. Lopez said.

"There is no amount of copper that is worth the pain this man is going to have to endure," she said

Jim Richards · 08-01-2008, 06:57 AM

Ha Ha.

john70t · 08-01-2008, 07:16 AM

They should have removed him with a rusty chain saw, midsectional cut would work.
Now he's going to be a medical liability.

masraum · 08-01-2008, 07:36 AM

nice

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

So who is he going to sue?

BeyGon · 08-01-2008, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgarr

So who is he going to sue?

Did the utility company have "DANGER, ELECTRIC SHOCK" signs on the pole in Spanish? Just a guess.

Danny_Ocean · 08-01-2008, 07:52 AM

Is the pole OK?

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

If this were CA, he'd successfully sue the utility company for millions because their copper was too easy to get at or some similar B.S.

Danny_Ocean · 08-01-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeyGon

Did the utility company have "DANGER, ELECTRIC SHOCK" signs on the pole in Spanish? Just a guess.

They better have "No Tresspassing" signs on each pole, too. I can smell the (Aqua Velva of the) plaintiff attorneys already.

onewhippedpuppy · 08-01-2008, 08:56 AM

This is the report I've been waiting on! Every time I see a copper theft on the news, I ask myself "how did this semi-retarded meth-head manage to remove live copper wiring without killing himself?" Fry a few more, maybe they'll get the idea.

jeffgrant · 08-01-2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neilk

His rescue was hindered because his flesh had melded with the metal on the pole.

Wow... wonder what it takes to pull that off? MIG? TIG?

onewhippedpuppy · 08-01-2008, 09:12 AM

5-in-1 paint scraper.

cab83_750 · 08-01-2008, 09:14 AM

Talking about electricity, I remember a case in South L.A. where a businessowner was burgalized. He called the cops and after investigation, nothing happened. The fixed the point of entry, and a weeks later, same point of entry, same 'calling the cops routine', same no results, same fix the point of entry.

Well, the burglary happened for the 3rd time or so. So the businessowner was so pissed that he 'electrified' the point of entry. Sure enough, the burglar was electrocuted.

I think there was a lawsuit against the businessowner, he was arrested, or something.

Go figure!

Danny_Ocean · 08-01-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

5-in-1 paint scraper.

Along with some lemon juice, salt & rubbing alcohol for good measure.

Andras Nagy · 08-01-2008, 09:48 AM

Wasn't it just a few days ago that someone was killed when he tried to connect into the electric service that the electric company had removed his meter?

Appanretly, he had not paid his bills, the electric company removed the meter (which disconnects his service to his house (or was it his trailer?), and when he tried to "jump" the wires, he was electrocuted.

Nice and tidy, if you ask me. No law suits, no further expense to us taxpayers, and the removal of another Darwin-challenged individual.

Cheers.

Hugh R · 08-01-2008, 10:07 AM

A friend of mine is a city attorney for the LA Dept of Water and Power. ALL he does is defend the city (and settle) DWP citizen electrocution cases, I mean that's all he does. Many from stealing copper.

bivenator · 08-01-2008, 10:10 AM

This thread and the bbq rib membrane thread could be merged. Moderator?

dtw · 08-01-2008, 10:23 AM

Tough room. I wouldn't wish that kind of suffering on any petty thief. It is said there is no kind of pain like severe burns, and just based on the few isolated 2nd degree burns I've had, I'm willing to take 'their' word for it. The 'punishment' is several orders of magnitude greater than the crime. What a horrible way to go, screaming in pain while keyboard jockeys on the internet go "Ha ha".

cab83_750 · 08-01-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtw

Tough room. I wouldn't wish that kind of suffering on any petty thief. It is said there is no kind of pain like severe burns, and just based on the few isolated 2nd degree burns I've had, I'm willing to take 'their' word for it. The 'punishment' is several orders of magnitude greater than the crime. What a horrible way to go, screaming in pain while keyboard jockeys on the internet go "Ha ha".

+1

On the other hand, is stealing $100.00 different from stealing $50,000.00? Sometimes, we need to look at the 'concept' rather than 'degree.' I bet you that if a daughter of a stranger was violated, your feelings would be different compared to 'if YOUR daughter was violated.'

I do not think we can judge anyone here as compassionate, keyboard-jockey, or what-have-yah!

Andras Nagy · 08-01-2008, 10:35 AM

This is not a question of being compassionate, or whatever.

All we are commenting on is that some people are just so stupid that the things they do puts them in jeapordy, even gets them killed. Is that OUR fault? Should we mourn that person's passing?

I don't think there is a sane or logical person out there, on our BBS or otherwise, who would be so stupid to do what these guys did.

Look at it from another perspective - is "stealing" electricity by such lethal means cause for them to die? No, but then the stupid manner in which they attempt to steal was judged by the "electricity" to kill him. We didn't kill him. He killed himself.

Huge difference.