Hallsville man electrocuted in southern Boone County
BOONE COUNTY, Mo (KMIZ)
A Hallsville man was electrocuted in an overnight crash that knocked down a utility pole in southern Boone County on Monday morning.
Southern Boone Fire District crews were sent to the area of South River Road and Higdon Road near the Missouri River for a report of a line down at about 1:30 a.m., Battalion Chief Colin Wright said. Firefighters at the scene were told a man had been hit by a power line, Wright said, and they found a man dead.
The Boone County Sheriff's Office said the man was 22 years old and from Hallsville but did not name him. Capt. Brian Leer said investigators believe the man made contact with a downed power line after crashing into a utility pole.
An ABC 17 News crew saw several emergency vehicles at the scene around 3 a.m. A Boone Electric Cooperative spokeswoman said a vehicle crashed into one of the utility provider's poles in the area. The work to fix the pole cut off power to several cooperative members.
Wright said firefighters were at the scene for about an hour waiting for utility workers to make the scene safe.
An ABC 17 News reporter saw crews treat a person lying on the ground. Crews later loaded the person into a van with no emergency lights.
Authorities cleared the area around 5 a.m. Boone Electric crews restored power to nearly 250 customers around 5:15 a.m.
Boone Electric says if you were to ever crash into a utility pole it's best to stay in the vehicle and call 911.
Experts say you should never drive over the power line. They also recommend people do not get out of the vehicle because the downed pole could be sending electrical currents through the ground.
If you had to get out of the vehicle because of smoke or a fire, experts say to make a solid jump out of the car without touching it. Then, make hops with your feet together until you are about 50 feet way.
When you are holding an object, experts say you should stay 10 feet away from a overhead power line, getting too close to the line could allow direct contact or allow a transfer of electrical current to you through the object you are holding.
Do not use a stick or any other tool to move lines off of buildings, cars and driveways and always call utility workers to come turn off the power.
