Suspected copper thief severely burned on utility pole in Dallas

The Dallas Morning News ^ | August 1, 2008 | EMILY TSAO

[Texican72]

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.

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.

[Texican72]

"The rescue of the man was hindered because his flesh had adhered to the metal components on the pole."

Ouch

[pissant]

I love a happy ending.

[CyberSpartacus]

Yes, God is indeed just!

[SpinnerWebb]

Serves him right. When a society starts allowing the cannibalization of it’s own infrastructure, all is lost. This practice disgusts me.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Should have left him up there for the buzzards. They have to eat too.

[Jeff Head]

Darwin award.

[Red Badger]

Darwin Award Honorable Mention............

[AmericaUnited]

This is one of the purist forms of street justice...

[Tarpon]

Around our town they are having a rash of plumbing pipe, street hook ups, stolen. Our city has a lot of the old stuff, mostly copper. They also are taking bridge railings, copper wire and AC units. At the scarp yards, they have setup remote sheriff stations with cameras to film everyone going into a scrap yard, Yes, it is costing the county a pretty penny, from manhole covers to workers who have to sit around while substitute materials are located.

Just doing the jobs Americans won't do.

[NonValueAdded]

No happy ending there for we the taxpayers ... no doubt we’ll be footing the bill for some extremely expensive medical care and a disability pension if the mutt lives.

[nhoward14]

Too bad there was no video of the actual event. This guy looks like a good candidate for the “Epic Fail” segment on G4’s Attack of the Show.

[KoRn]

.

[Texican72]

They took the man to Parkland, which is run by Dallas County. His bills will be covered by the taxpayers.

[Conspiracy Guy]

He needs to sue the electric company for not posting warning labels about the lines being energized.

[umgud]

Build a man a fire, and he will be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

[nhoward14]

Parkland is the only hospital with a burn unit. We probably will be paying for this guy’s rehab, but he’ll suffer a whole lot more pain than we allow death penalty convicts to suffer.

[Mr. Brightside]

"The rescue of the man was hindered because his flesh had adhered to the metal components on the pole."

This kind of thing burns me up.

[Kharis13]

“It’s alive! Alive!”

Brian

[piytar]

Lawsuit to follow in 5, 4, 3...

[Devilinbaggypants]

Kind of gives cabrito a whole new meaning!