A man trying to steal live electrical wires from a power pole early Monday died from electrocution and knocked out power to more than 3,000 homes and businesses.

Robert Buchanan, 26, of San Bernardino, was pronounced dead beside the Metrolink railroad tracks near the corner of Valencia Street and Lime Avenue, San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said. It is an unincorporated area near the Fontana city limits.

"(Southern California) Edison has been victim numerous times to theft of their cable because of the copper wiring and the fact that people are recycling it," said sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller.

San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies received a call regarding a death investigation at 2:25 a.m.

They discovered that Buchanan used bolt cutters to cut live Southern California Edison wires from a pole.

Miller received no information indicating whether the man actually climbed on the pole to cut the wires.

SCE spokeswoman Lois Pitter Bruce said 3,096 SCE customers lost power initially, but workers were able to restore power to all but 94 customers by 3:16 a.m.

Those 94 customers remained without power through the afternoon and no estimate was available on when they'd have power restored.

Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_20407988/man-killed-while-cutting-fontana-power-line#ixzz1sJSUqSdx

Submitted on 04/17/2012

Submitted by: Greg Cross
Reference: San Bernardino County Sun, April 16, 2012

Copyright © 2012 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Good grief...ANOTHER one...!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Crispy crooks copping copper!

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