Thanks for posting this here 32VAC. [Linked Image]
People trimming trees near live power lines, unfortunately often ends up like an accident like this occuring.
I've attended quite a few local callouts where home-owners have bought down (insulated) 400/230V lines running along the footpath (side-walk) outside thier property boundary.
It certainly does make a good case for underground reticulation, but if people just took a bit more care when trimming trees, we wouldn't have the problems, damage and injuries/fatalities associated with this sort of work.
IMO, I think that a lot of people are led into a false sense of security, because wood is traditionally thought of as an insulator.
That is quite true, but not if it is still growing and is full of water.
I must say that in my job as a Line Mechanic, it is trimming trees near power lines that worries me the most, out of most of the tasks
in my job description.
Tree branches are unpredictable and even holding them with a clamp on the end of a hotstick near live lines is a real worry.
It's a task that can only be done in many, small pieces.
32VAC,
It's a real shame that this happened so close to Christmas as well, it ruins any Christmas in the future for that family. [Linked Image]
Not nice at all.