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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
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Man trying to steal copper wires ge

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

DALLAS — Responding to a call at 5:30 a.m. on Friday from a passerby, Dallas Fire-Rescue found a man who was on top of a utility pole, severely burned. Looks like he was trying to steal copper wiring. It took them over an hour to get him down because his flesh had "melded" with the metal on the pole.

The passerby saw wires sparking on the utility pole in the 800 block of Regal Row, near Irving, and there were reports of power outages. Officials think that the man was hit with 7,620 volts, possibly twice, and most of his clothes were burned off or blown off. He suffered third-degree burns and was burned on about 50 percent of his body, and was taken to Parkland Hospital.

UPDATE: The man, 51-year-old James Buster McKay, died at 11 p.m. on Saturday evening from his injuries.

Submitted on 08/08/2008

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/aug/01/man-trying-steal-copper-wires-gets-badly-burned-ut/

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Yet another in the never-ending supply of of dumb copper thieves to add to Darwin's collection. Thanks!


Candi said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Fried felons filching copper. Thanks!


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