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Subscribe to RSSAs TODAY's Natalie Morales reports, two women were electrocuted to death by water after rushing to help a driver who had slammed his car into a fire hydrant and utility pole in California. One witness, James Pike, describes the horrific scene.
Two women were electrocuted Wednesday after trying to help the victims of a car accident in Los Angeles, fire department officials said.
The women, who have not been identified, were apparently responding separately to the scene of a crash in Valley Village in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles., where a vehicle slammed into a fire hydrant and a light pole which knocked down a power line around 8:30 p.m.
Rick Mcclure / AP
Los Angeles fire captain Cristian Granucci examines the wreckage of a car as water from a fire hydrant sits gushes out behind it after the crash.
The SUV came to a stop about 10 feet away from the fire hydrant, which burst, shooting water two stories into the air, witnesses said. The gushing water quickly pooled underneath the vehicle where the damaged light pole left electrical wires sticking out of the ground.
Fire department officials said the wires were disguised by the darkness, the running water and the growing number of startled neighbors and passing drivers who came running to help. Unbeknownst to the first people who tried to help the victim of the crash, an adult male, the water was electrified.
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A woman who lived in a nearby home rushed out to the scene and stepped into the electrified water and was electrocuted.
A husband and wife who were driving by also stopped and rushed to help. That woman was also electrocuted. Her husband suffered only minor injuries.
Rick Mcclure / AP
Firefighters and paramedics examine two of the eight victims who were shocked after attempting to aid a car crash victim as water gushes from the fire hyrdant.
“I came running out and I saw the car and I saw the water, and then all of the sudden I saw a lady come out of nowhere,” a witness, Christie Vergini, told Fox LA. “She walked, stepped in the water, fell back on her back with her arms straight out, and then I ran back to the house to get my mom and came back. There was a huge crowd of people. Another lady supposedly was reaching in to help her got shocked too, and they were trying to help her and everybody was like stand back, don’t touch the water."
“Everybody panicking because they couldn’t help the woman on the ground because of the live wire,” another witness, Liz Casmier told Fox LA.” I mean, it was obvious she needed aid, but nobody could do anything because of the live wire in the water. It was horrifying.”
Five others, ranging in ages from 19 to 57, followed and were electrically shocked, fire department officials said.
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“I run outside, and across the street I see two women laying on the sidewalk,” a witness, James Pike, told NBCLosAngeles.com. “I see two or three young gentlemen keep trying to rescue them and pull them to safety and each time they would try to pull them there were getting shocked.”
When Los Angeles firefighters arrived to the scene, they used rubber gloves and a long pole to pull the two women, who lay motionless on the ground, from the water. Seven of the eight victims were taken to an area hospital, where the two women were pronounced dead. One of the victims who suffered minor injuries declined to be taken to the hospital.
NBC News
An aerial view of the accident in Los Angeles which killed two people.
In total, 55 additional firefighters were dispatched to the scene, who secured the area and treated victims.
The Department of Water and Power shut off the water supply to the fire hydrant and electricity to the power lines. Investigators from the LAPD Valley Traffic Division said excessive speed was likely a factor of the car accident. Alcohol was not believe to be involved.
“This tragic accident, in some ways can serve as a warning,” Los Angeles Fire Department Spokesman Erik Scott said. “Many people, with nothing but the best intentions, were injured and killed while trying to save others. This reminds all who want to help at the scene of an emergency to stay aware of their surroundings, and if there is any question as to safety, please wait for trained rescuers to arrive.”
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Leave a Comment:
I usually try to stay grounded and insulate myself from such shocking news but this truly is electrifying.
This is so, so sad! Two people died trying to help someone. Now is the time for the outpouring of sympathy and reflection upon how fragile we really are!
Stop what you are doing for a couple of seconds and think about the selflessness of these two ladies and ask the question: "Would I have done what they did?"
While I obviously agree that people should be aware of surroundings in such situations, the last part of this about waiting for trained rescuers is precisely the message that has made Americans into a bunch of helpless wussies when it comes giving assistance to those in need. We have been so trained to "wait for trained professionals" that people often fail to give assistance when it's absolutely needed, whether it be a house on fire or assisting a victim of crime, or someone who is drowning. What people take away from it is "Someone else will take care of it". And then when someone dies for lack of assistance, witnesses who have been so brainwashed are then charged for not rendering assistance.
It's certainly tragic that 2 people died while trying to help others. That is to their permanent credit, but it's not a perfect world such that deaths like these can be avoided. People will die because they tried to help, and others will die because no one helped. At least these deaths have the higher honer. My best to the families.
Thomas Edison was right!
DAMN YOU TESLA!!!
"No good deed, goes unpunished!!!"
Shocking...
A terrible accident. But because nobody believes in accidents anymore, blame will be placed on either the driver or these poor women who were only trying to help. My condolensces to the families.
I'm getting sick of people's negligence being called an accident. The crash was caused by speeding, it was not an accident, it could have been prevented and I hope they prosecute the driver and the families of the victims sue the crap out of the driver as well.
You are the reason I have lost all faith in humanity.
.....its strange though that WOMEN came to help. Usually its the opposite, and they don't want nothing to do with it, unless its a wounded animal. Wive's would always stay away, even if they live on busy streets, and their was an accident, they would yell at their husbands to not go out there, and help
Lets not promote them to sainthood just yet. They very well could have been going up to the driver giving him an earful on how they shouldn't have been speeding and telling them the police are on the way and they are going bye bye. I have seen it first hand how the busy bodies line up to check out the accidents and to ridicule the drivers who in most cases probably deserve the remarks.
It is sad two people are dead but do we know for sure they had the interest of helping and not just being busy bodies or there to make some wise remarks about driving fast or being reckless. Call me negative or a pessimist but over the years I don't see a lot of compassion for people and I personally question the intentions of people. Regardless it is a tragedy but hold off on hero status.
Yes it is to bad, sorry to hear. Now, look at all the fire trucks, what the hell are they all doing, there is not enough area, for all of them to work in, If you keep an eye on the fire depts, how many trucks the roll to minor T.A. and all so the big block the road ladder truck, which they don't need there. More and more wastefull spending by fire depts, The ladder truck will need a new motor so, but, most of the ware came from rolling to minor T.A. not large structure fires. Lay off the chrome, make the fire truck simple, start saving money or you will run out of the grave train, Yes they are great at what they do, and yes we need them, and yes there are some that go beyond the call of duty, but no money, means no money, there out of a job, and the citys are back to the people maning the trucks.
My husband works for the fire department as hydrant maintenance. Why aren't they using hydrants that has a cutoff barrel. When a hydrant gets hit that bad no water shoots up in the air. It saves lives and also no water run off. Just imagine thousands of water being wasted that the tax paper has to pay. I'm sure the first thing is cost well this one need to be replace start with that.
Comment #41 deleted, death trolling.
MattHere banned.
This is so sad but I can't help but think of that zoolander scene. Maybe first aid in grade school could cover how downed power poles are dangerous.
A lot of the posters are missing the point. Two people died while attempting to assist another person. This is a genuine tragedy, not an occasion to demonstrate how witty you are. I would like to express my sympathies to the families of the deceased heroines and say that if I ever need help I hope that someone like them is nearby.
Is there no compassion for those electrocuted they were simply trying to help the accident victims, and being good Samaritan's. Some of these comments are just so heartless, these women never thought of themselves, they thought of those trapped in a car. Condolences to the families.
I knew of a guy who stopped at an accident, where a vehicle went through a guard rail, a power pole and down an enbankment. One of the wires from the power pole was down and was touching the guard rail. The guy lend against the guard rail and was electrocuted to death.
darwin award times two.
I hope, Uncle Harry, if you are ever in a serious accident, that no darwin award winners come to your aid, and that all the intelligent ones will recognize you for what you are and leave the scene.
Why are they still using wet water barrel hydrant? My husband works for fire department hydrant maintenance. Whe our hydrant gets hit no water comes shooting out or running getting the street flooded. It has a flange on it that cuts the water flow as soon as it is hit. This will save lives and cut the cost of water running off. Do something constructive start replacing them with this.
Obviously took them too long to get this done to save any lives.
This is Too Bad! Whatta Shame!
Good point, on cut off valves, on hydrants, probably, because the city has used the funds for some thing else.
Our city has switch out most of the hydrants to dry barrels, it is the way to go. have you seen the wage for a water sup or higher up the ladder, darn good wage.
You know the day divides the night...the night destroys the day. Try to run try to hide....break on through to the other side. (THE DOORS)
Dani Seakey, as much as I like The Doors, what in the hell do they have to do with this topic? Honestly, you're no better than MattHere and alostfraggle with your mindset.
Insouciance's comment was clearly and concisely written. If read and comprehended as it was written silly rejoinders would not be made. Unfortunately, people do love to squash everything to fit their own agenda.
I'm sorry, but, running up to a car that has crashed into a power pole that also has water from a hydrant that's making a small pool under the vehicle? Did no one notice the power lines on the ground... or the water? Who doesn't know that water and electricity doesn't mix. Oops! Darwin strikes again.
Did you read the article??? At all??? The fireman quoted in the article said the lines were hidden by darkness and the water.
Yeah, I read the entire article. Um... A power pole? That means power lines are connected. And as far as the hidden lines are concerned, why the heck is someone running blind up to an unsafe environment?
WOW TXmoney, Shame on them and they deserve to die. Right? Man, where's your compassion for humanity?
Compassion for humanity? Really? I'm an EMT. My job is saving people's lives. Those two women were apparently out of their element. I do feel bad for their famillies, but really? Being a good samaritan is great, but, use a brain. Think.
hope the politicians read this to let them know that these two humans that died had more courage that any of these a-holes have,or ever will have.
I am also convinced that Politicians are mostly seeking power for the hidden and outright benefits. It should be a calling like any public service trust positon with the aim of helping and finding what's best for those needing justice, mercy, and compassion! But it has become a depository for self-seeking, self-aggrandizing indiviuals who aren't able, ready, or willing to hold down a real job!
What a shame. We talk about how people are not willing to help each other and here two people died trying to help someone who caused an accident by excessive speed. My heart goes out to their families and I have nothing but admiration for all those who tried to help. It is easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and say they should have realized that the power pole plus water meant electricity but all these people saw were others needing help and instead of reacting as so many do in our society, they tried to help. The smartest thing to do? No, it wasn't. But you have to admire their caring for their fellow human beings. RIP folks and I hope those that survived have no long term issues.
They weren't ignorant ayatollah. It was dark and one of the fireman said you couldn't see the power lines because of that and the water.
It was dark because the light pole was down. The fact that there was no light should have been a pretty big clue.