Watch out for those power lines - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Palangi · #1 11-19-2009, 11:05 PM

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/21656259/index.html

kerry · #2 11-19-2009, 11:25 PM

Did the crew survive? Looks like they were driving with the mast up.

Jorn · #3 11-19-2009, 11:40 PM

Same thing happened with a well known news anchor and here crew here in LA. They survived but she's missing one arm from the elbow down. Now it's against the law to raise a satellite pole within a certain amount of feet from a power line.

I have seen some close calls on movie sets: one time a grip was pushing a functioning rain rig (to simulate rain) towards a power line, just a couple of feet away from the line someone warned him.

Brian Carlton · #4 11-20-2009, 12:08 AM

That wasn't just any power line. Those were major transmission lines and I'm guessing that the voltage was over 80K. It's way above the typical high voltage lines in the neighborhood (7200).

The mast must have been at least 60' in the air.

I don't believe anybody survives that hit.

Palangi · #5 11-20-2009, 12:14 AM

No injuries

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/21654493/detail.html

2 guys need new shorts though......

Brian Carlton · #6 11-20-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

No injuries

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/21654493/detail.html

2 guys need new shorts though......

Two of the most fortunate people on the planet.

MS Fowler · #7 11-20-2009, 06:42 AM

I recently worded with a drilling crew doing test borings along a high tension line. We were investigating the soils to install a line of new towers. Drillers are prohibited from being within 10' of any overhead lines, and we had a safety man from the power company with us full time. Still, hearing those 100,000+ volts humming and buzzing 50 feet overhead attracted my attention.

KarTek · #8 11-20-2009, 07:34 AM

Why would there not be an interlock on the ignition to keep the truck from being started with the mast in the upright position?

Brian Carlton · #9 11-20-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarTek

Why would there not be an interlock on the ignition to keep the truck from being started with the mast in the upright position?

The manufacturer of the truck made the mistaken assumption that it wouldn't be operated by a moron.

Bet the moron sues the manufacturer for that exact scenario.............

R Leo · #10 11-20-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

That wasn't just any power line. Those were major transmission lines and I'm guessing that the voltage was over 80K. It's way above the typical high voltage lines in the neighborhood (7200).

The mast must have been at least 60' in the air.

I don't believe anybody survives that hit.

Yep, megawatt transmission lines...look in the background at those pylons. We have a similar set crossing the farm east and west. You should hear the cables creak and groan in the evenings when the east end is cooling and the west is still warm...at least that's what I guess is causing it to make the noise.

Pretty fun to sit in the front of the barn during a thunderstorm and watch lightning hit the pylon to the south of us. Boom!!!!

TX76513 · #11 11-20-2009, 10:11 AM

Hopefully they had surge protectors on their AV Equipment

Brian Carlton · #12 11-20-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Hopefully they had surge protectors on their AV Equipment

Yes, I'm sure they worked well at stopping 100K volts.

Brian Carlton · #13 11-20-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

Yep, megawatt transmission lines...look in the background at those pylons. We have a similar set crossing the farm east and west. You should hear the cables creak and groan in the evenings when the east end is cooling and the west is still warm...at least that's what I guess is causing it to make the noise.

Pretty fun to sit in the front of the barn during a thunderstorm and watch lightning hit the pylon to the south of us. Boom!!!!

I'm a bit surprised that the mast on the truck could reach high enough to contact those lines. The truck has no outriggers and 60' is a long way up................

#14 11-20-2009, 10:25 AM

I was working at a power plant last year when someone was killed by hitting overhead transmission lines with a crane boom. You do not want to mess around with that kind of voltage unless you know what you're doing.

kerry · #15 11-20-2009, 10:28 AM

Back in the 70's I met a Scotsman who had hit an 80k volt transmission line with a piece of scaffold pipe while working on a construction site. He was wearing rubber boots but one had a hole in the sole. He survived.