Uncoiled Live Wire From Woman’s Car

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 12

Uncoiled Live Wire From Woman’s Car

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 10.

Fqur youths took their lives in their hands this evening when they uncoiled a live 550-volt, direct current trolley-bus wire which had wrapped around a car after falling from its overhead support.

The incident occurred in Symonds street about 7 p.m The solid copper wire slipped out of its groove- in the supporting slipper after the rods of a Mount Roskill-bound bus ran off the overhead wires. fn tailing the 50-yard length reeled around a car travelling behind the bus Messrs R K Fergusson. K L Malome. J W Davies and B C Davies, all of Glen Innes, immediately ran to uncoil the wire from the car "We did it assuming the line was dead.” said one of the four “There were no sparks when the line wrapped around the car—only a scratching ”

Al] four were.wearing rubber soled shoes

Mr Fergusson said he only realised the line was alive after he had helped 15y it out in the gutter because of the “slight tingling” along his arms

The driver of the car, an unidentified woman, drove off —slightly pale, but uninjured -cleaving numerous traffic officers, police constables and transport board officials to sort out traffic and two cable repair trucks to replace the wire