Driveway leading into the Moore Property in Moss Hill

It was only a couple of weeks ago on a weekend afternoon that the Hardin Fire Department responded to Mr. Moore’s double wide manufactured home for a house fire. Upon arrival the department determined that trash was being burned in the fireplace of the home and had smoked up the house. Fans were employed to clear smoke.

Sean Butler gives statement to Liberty County Sheriff's Department Deputy McCown

According to Mr. Sean Butler, a neighbor who was with Mr. Moore on Saturday afternoon, John asked him to help him restore power to his manufactured home and Mr. Butler advised him not to attempt what he was about to do.

According to Mr. Butler, Mr. Moore told him to stay around and that he may need an ambulance. At this point Mr. Moore climbed a ladder erected against a utility pole on the property to engage a fuse on top of the pole. Mr. Moore, using only his hand, grabbed the fuse and engaged it. He was electrocuted and fell about 40 feet to the ground. Mr. Butler then ran to Robert McNulty’s house, a neighbor, to summon help for Mr. Moore.

According to neighbors, Mr. Moore was an experienced and talented heavy equipment operator and had operated a dump truck business in the area in the recent past.

Justice of the Peace Bobby Rader pronounced Mr. Moore dead at the scene early Saturday evening. Due to a number of factors JP Rader ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of Mr. Moore’s death and determine if there were any contributing factors leading to his death. Sgt. Investigator Todd Mauthe investigated the incident for the Liberty County Sheriff's Department. Although no identification could be found during the early part of the investigation, it is thought that Mr. Moore was approximately 60 years old.

Submitted on 04/20/2003

Submitted by: Dalton Gregory
Reference: http://www.i-dineout.com/pages

Copyright © 2002 DarwinAwards.com

Kimberly said:
Maybe Toss: Too Common
I am in agreement with Bill and Jack. This scenerio is common but the fact that he asked a neighbor to stay around to call an ambulance if needed means the guy obviously knew he shouldn't be doing what he was about to do!!

Gregory said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Better than your average electricity story.

Bill said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I agree with Jack: if it weren't for the "I may need an ambulance", I would have said it is too common.

Jack said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
"According to Mr. Butler, Mr. Moore told him to stay around and that he may need an ambulance." The guy knew he was doing something stupid, and he still went ahead and did it! Let the readers decide - thumbs up or thumbs down?

Bert said:
Maybe Toss: Too Common
We've had this scenario over and over- If you're not a lineman, best not be messing with utility poles!

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