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2008 December Rejects
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Call of nature answered on railway
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We don't sell tobacco to minors.
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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

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

Man Killed Stealing Wire

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

A 50-year-old man was killed yesterday when a telephone pole fell on him as he was apparently trying to steal copper wire.

Police said the man was wearing climbing gear when he was found crushed beneath the 227-kilogram wooden pole on 203rd Street in Maple Ridge.

"It's a tragic situation," said Telus spokesman Shawn Hall. "It's a sad day around here, but it was inevitable that something like this could happen."

Telus recorded 58 incidences of live cable theft last year, he added.

Yesterday morning, the unnamed man climbed the pole and cut the steel guideline wrapped around the valuable copper telephone wires.

The initial cut caused a "shock wave" that snapped the pole at its base, Hall said. The man fell to the ground and was crushed.

Police arriving at the downed pole just after 4:30 a.m. found the dead man. A portion of Lougheed Highway near the scene was closed for five hours as police investigated and repairs were made.

"Wire theft is a very, very dangerous activity," said Hall. "Not only does it take away our customers' access to 911, but climbing a utility pole is incredibly dangerous."

Cutting tools, including saws and cable cutters, were found near the man's body.

Submitted on 12/03/2008

Submitted by: Alan Perry
Reference: Vancouver Province, Nov. 14, 2008

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Repeat
Thanks, but we already received this story a few times when it happened. A quick search of "Telus" in the archives finds a few submissions. Please be sure to search both the slush & reject piles prior to submitting to ensure it's not a duplicate.


Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Repeat
What Bruce said.


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