“He was significantly injured,” Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero said of Brian Hopkins, 24, who was in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital with third-degree burns.

Hopkins, of White Plains, N.Y., was found aflame on top of the trainset just after 4 a.m. by Boston firefighters after he had spent Saturday night visiting with a friend in the North End.

Investigators suspect Hopkins may have been intoxicated and came in contact with the overhead electrical wires that power the high-speed Acela. [Note: With 25,000 volts running through the lines one does not have to touch them, just get close and the current will arc through the body to ground]

Hopkins disappeared at 2:30 a.m., when he walked out of his friend’s North End apartment.

“That was the last time the friend saw him,” said Joe Pesaturo, spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Transit Police.

Hopkins’ friend, he said, later got in a cab to go look for him, but with no success. Police said Hopkins was carrying what appeared to be architectural drawings. A family member reached in New York declined to comment.

It was unclear how Hopkins reached South Station. There is no train service at 4 a.m. Pesaturo said police found “evidence” that Hopkins tried to get inside the train, which was parked on Track 7 with its doors shut. He declined to elaborate.

“He had indicated to his friend that he wanted to get back to New York this morning,” Pesaturo said yesterday of Hopkins.

To fully appreciate the magnitude of the shock Hopkins suffered, by comparison to the 25,000-volt Acela, MBTA Green Line trolleys run on 600 volts of electricity.

Submitted on 07/10/2006

Submitted by: Bill Moser
Reference: Boston Hearald 7/10/06

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Lacks Excellence
We've had a few tales of folks getting cooked by the ol' pantograph, but this one's closer to home (the ACELA runs through NYC and I occasionally work in White Plains; for all I know the victim is one of those mooks who crosses the street against a wave of oncoming traffic). 25000 volts is also a LOT! Nevertheless, somethhing seems to be lacking, I know not what. What say my fellow mods?

Fitzroy said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
The only negative I see here is that mass transit electrocutions may also become too common. However, I feel this guy went above and beyond the call of duty to get himself toasted. I have no problem with the level of excellence, so if more can be done with this premise I endorse working with this incident.

Jorge said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common

Sheryl said:
Maybe Toss: Other
I'm just not sure about this one. Maybe it's the cut and paste job, maybe it's the story. It just somehow lacks the excellence which marks the good stories.

Becky said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes
Honestly, I suspect a hoax. Anyone near NYC able to confirm this?

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