If You Hit a Power Pole .....

**Meddle** · September-13-09, 12:59 AM

... stay in the car!

Posted: 7:19 a.m. Sept. 12, 2009
Two killed in accident on Detroit's eastside

BY TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Two people died early today when the car they were driving was struck by a car driven by an apparent drunken driver, Detroit police said.

The pair were in a car heading eastbound on 7 Mile near Schoenherr around 2 a.m. when a woman driving on Joann didn't stop at a sign.

The cars collided. The couple's car then hit and knocked down an electrical pole.

Downed wires from the pole electrocuted the pair as they tried to get out of the car.

Sparks from the wires then ignited spilled gasoline from the crash and burned the car.

The women, who police say was driving drunk, is in custody.

Detroit police have yet to identify any of the people involved in the accident.

Accident investigators are still at the scene. They expect the intersection to be closed until noon.

Stosh · September-13-09, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by Meddle

... stay in the car!

Sparks from the wires then ignited spilled gasoline from the crash and burned the car.

Pick your poison.

Retroit · September-13-09, 10:26 AM

...or jump out!

If they stayed in the car [[without being electrocuted) they would have burned anyway. The proper thing to do would be to jump out of the car ensuring that during the jump you are in contact with neither the car or the ground.

DO NOT stay in the car if there are sparks and spilled gasoline!

Buy American · September-13-09, 10:54 AM

Uh....I think the car rolled. I'm not quite sure if they were upside down or not....therefore, it wouldn't have been too easy to "jump out". A fireman on the scene that night [[family) said they were burned to death.

**eno** · September-13-09, 11:01 AM

what a horrible way to die.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRH7F...om=PL&index=37

**slick** · September-13-09, 11:38 AM

during the jump you are in contact with neither the car or the ground.

nor the wires. The wires probably were in contact with the vehicle.
Unfortuanatly I do not think there was much that could have been done.

panic situation, sparking wires, dark, they were probably killed instantly the only saving grace.

RIP

**Ragtoplover59** · September-13-09, 11:48 AM

This happened in Nashville within the last two weeks, Wires were touched with a Forklift, It was reported this kid jumped, just not far enough I suppose? Could he have been so charged that he sparked nearby metal? Warning, this is Graphic, seems Electrical Fires are more intense then Chemical Fires?

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ccc_1252795333

**Bobl** · September-13-09, 01:00 PM

Apparently, all because an irresponsible driver chose to drive while drunk.
Call a cab. Call a friend. Sleep over. Do not drive while drunk!

**Meddle** · September-13-09, 01:22 PM

This was a more complicated situation than normal. Generally they don't catch fire, but in this case, it was a lose-lose decision.

Bottom line is that if you hit a power pole and have wires touching the car, stay inside and don't touch anything metal. You cannot jump far enough, fast enough to avoid the arc of high voltage.