Family electrocuted by downed power line !!

[2Bwacco]

Folks, remember some things DO NOT conduct electricity; other people's bodies are NOT one of them. Use plastic or wood items to push someone that is in contact with electricity, not your hands. A tennis shoe, a tire ... please be careful !

Three family members electrocuted after power line falls in San Bernardino

Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/14/2011 01:57:34 PM PST
Updated: 01/14/2011 10:02:55 PM PST




Photo gallery: Man, wife, son killed after power line comes down

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SAN BERNARDINO - Guadalupe Trejo awoke to the sound of explosions coming from the back of her Acacia Avenue home early Friday. When she looked into the back yard, she saw something that had her entire family running for the front door.
"The whole back yard was glowing light blue," said Trejo, 52.
She didn't know it at the time, but the glow was coming from an arcing 16,000-volt power line that fell, electrocuting a married couple and their 21-year-old son two doors down. Steven Vego, 43, Sharon Vego, 42, and Jonathan Cole, 21, were
Cynthia Sandoval, left, comforts the mother of the Vego family Friday after a 16,000 volt power line fell during high winds and all electrocuting and killing three members of the family. Steven Vego, 43, his wife Sharon, and their son, Jonathan Cole, 21, were killed in the incident, which occurred at 5:45 a.m., in the backyard of their San Bernardino home in the 5400 block of Acacia Avenue. (Rick Sforza Staff Photographer)


pronounced dead at the scene in the 5400 block of Acacia Avenue.
Dozens of police, firefighters and Southern California Edison personnel, as well as friends, family and neighbors flooded the street for hours.
It was such an unusual incident that even seasoned emergency personnel were in disbelief.
"I've never seen an incident with multiple electrocutions or injuries that were caused by this level of power," said San Bernardino fire Capt. Michael Bilheimer.
Police Lt. Jarrod Burguan said the power line fell around 5:45 a.m. Steven Vego went to his back yard to investigate what happened and was electrocuted. It was unclear whether Vego touched the line or something near it.
When his wife and son went to check on him, they were also electrocuted.


When firefighters arrived, they found the couple's 17-year-old daughter in front of the house. The power line was sparking and flopping around in the back yard, so firefighters couldn't get to the victims immediately.
Once SCE workers arrived and shut down power, firefighters found Sharon Vego's body on top of her son's. Steven Vego was found lying nearby.
The Vegos' daughter and 10-year-old son did not suffer any injuries, authorities said.
About 150 homes lost power due to the fallen line, but power was expected to be restored by mid-afternoon, said SCE spokesman Steve Conroy.
Conroy said 30 to 50 mph winds were blowing through north San Bernardino at the time, but the cause of the fallen line was not known. A wind advisory issued by the National Weather Service remains in effect until noon today.
"Was that a contributing factor to the line coming down? That's part of the investigation," Conroy said.
The incident is also being investigated by police, firefighters, Cal/OSHA and the California Public Utilities Commission.
Conroy said it is unknown if there was a transformer explosion before the line fell.
"We will get on that pole and examine every piece of equipment to determine what operated right and what didn't," he said.
Neighbors were disturbed in part because it could have happened anywhere along their street. North San Bernardino is known for having frequent high winds.
Nicole Jimenez, 24, who lives across the street from the Vegos, said she woke when the power went out in the morning.
She said she regretted not getting a chance to meet the family.
"It's so sad. You take life for granted. You can say `See you later neighbors' but then you don't," she said. [email protected]
909-386-3878

[Orm Embar]

Nice reminder. In addition, please remember that electricity arcs. Note that the emergency responders did not approach the back yard until the power was shut off. There is a good reason for that. With a power line of that size, I would not go within 30 feet (maybe more) of the area. Those lines jump around when live with electricity and the electricity itself will reach out beyond the line in arcs.

How very, very sad.


[QUOTE=2Bwacco;127986]Folks, remember some things DO NOT conduct electricity; other people's bodies are NOT one of them. Use plastic or wood items to push someone that is in contact with electricity, not your hands. A tennis shoe, a tire ... please be careful !

Three family members electrocuted after power line falls in San Bernardino