NEARLY A FATAL ACCIDENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 166, 17 July 1939, Page 10

NEARLY A FATAL ACCIDENT

CAR FLINGS WIRE INTO 110.000-VOLI LINE UIXESJIEN’S CLOSE CALL I i’ei Press Ascoeiation. I PALMERSTON N., Jul\ 14. When the electric power failed in. Wellington yesterday about noon there was almost a tragedy behind the inj terrupt ion. | Five linesmen employed by (he Manawatu-Oroua Power Board were iengaged in running a new service line lof four wires on Ihe Longburn-Ron-gotea Road. The wires hau been run out ready for straining up. The route of those was over a Public Works i telephone line and across the road ’.under 110,000 volt lines from Mangahao to Bunny! horpe. Thv service • wires were laid slack on the road and ;cars proceeding at a normal specu ( were passing over them witnout itrouble. Then a car came along at an estimated speed of 60 miles an houi. (The suction of the front wheels caused one wire to become fouled under the ( car, which carried the wire along the ) road until it broke under Ihe strain .and flew up into the 110,000 volt jive line. A terrific power arc instantaneously occurred, with a tremendous roar, extending to the ground ano 'travelling in all directions along the I lines, including the telephones, until (the protective apparatus involving the Arapuni - Waikaremoana - Mangahao I generating stations cut off the supply ■in the section involved. The Govern'ment hydro-electric service telephone I lines were burned through, and the main cables of the 110,OUO volt lines I were so badly damaged that they have I been replaced. I The linesmen, though long experienced, received a great iright. i They were all badly shocked, having J a narrow escape from death, as they vvere in the immediate vicinity on the ground. So great was the power arc • that a hedo-e under the main line I burned.