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Darwin Awards
2007 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Tree-Cutting Accident

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Tree-cutting accident kills father, injures son June 17, 2007

RUMFORD, Maine --A 46-year-old man was electrocuted and his son seriously injured when a tree they were cutting fell on power lines, authorities said.

The two were cutting down trees along Route 108 on Saturday morning when the accident happened, according to the Sun Journal newspaper of Lewiston. Identifications were not immediately released.

"The father was actually working a backhoe -- they were working in accord. The son had cut the tree, the tree tipped toward the power line, and at some point the son got some charge. He was actually touching the tree," said Rumford Detective Sgt. Daniel Garbarini.

The father got off the tractor and went over to help his son, Garbarini said, and was then electrocuted.

"The father is now deceased, and the son has been Lifeflighted to a Massachusetts hospital for burn injuries," he said.

By the time police and firefighters arrived, the tree had fallen off the lines, Rumford Fire Deputy Richard Coulomb said.

"Usually we get trees blown down on lines, but for someone to be cutting down a tree and catch it - it doesn't happen ... often," he said.

Coulomb said he hasn't seen anything like Saturday's accident in his 18 years with the department. "It's upsetting," he said. "It's upsetting, but you have to concentrate on the patient."

((***Submitter's note: I am from the area and happen to know that this was actually a 3 generation incident. After the man who died ran over to save his son, his own father ran over to save him. The grandfather was electrocuted also but was not killed.))

Submitted on 06/20/2007

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2007/06/17/tree_cutting_accident_kills_father_injure

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Great? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Awful?
Love it! Hate it!
>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
This is borderline too common, but I'll give it a nod since it involved 3 generations of the same family. Thanks for sending it in.

James said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I concur with Bruce. I'm not quite sure of the degree of stupidity, but it IS three generations, now isn't it?!

Chip said:
Maybe Toss: Bystanders Hurt
I am not sure if any of these could be considered as bystanders as well. Let's see what the other moderators say.

Graham said:
Neutral: Bystanders Hurt
This one just seems to be hanging around. The three generations is certainly interesting

Jack said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I'm unsure about this one, but as it involved 3 generations, I'll go for a DA.

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