Darwin Awards: 2003 January Slush Pile

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Darwin Awards
2003 Slush Pile

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

Confusion solved

2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

I don't remember the exact date, just the year. An arena building at our local fairgrounds was in need of a coat of paint, so some local paint contractors were hired to do the job. As the center line of the alley was culverted to run rain water away from the building, a scaffolding cluster on wheels would roll downhill. So the painters removed the wheels, and were in the process of trying to get the scaffolding close enough to the building when it cam in contact with a transformer outside the building. Two painters were killed. The story made headlines and all the talk in town was how this could happen, and was the city liable for the damages. Our bright city officials decided that they needed to do their "own investigation" so with much tadoo and fanfare, they went personally to the scene to investigate the cause of the fatalities. Trying to "recreate the circumstances" was an understatement. Two officials grabbed the scaffolding in the exact same locations as the two painters, slightly moved the scaffolding, and were promptly electrocuted.

Submitted on 01/17/2003

Submitted by: Larry Vanover
Reference: Amarillo Daily News 1982

Copyright © 2002 DarwinAwards.com

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

Tracy said:
Maybe Toss: Too Common
It's too common - someone trying to show how an accident happened, and doing the same thing

Teela said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award

Bert said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
This should be verifiable- With verification, I'd say it would do.

Bill said:
Maybe Toss: Other
With something as large as a scaffolding, it probably doesn't need to actually touch the wires in order for induction to cause a considerable current - I don't think that is common knowledge.

Gregory said:
Maybe Toss: Too Common
similar "industrial accident investigation" deaths too common. Story too old to easily verify.

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