Live news truck mast hits power lines, explodes

[jal41]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/21654493/detail.html
http://www.ajc.com/news/wsb-tv-employees-survive-203866.html

A live truck belonging to WSB-TV/Atlanta hit power lines after they forgot to lower their mast. In addition to destroying electrical lines and underground water utilities, the truck caught fire and exploded. Luckily, the reporter and photographer escaped with only minor injuries.

This was so bad...the competition reported on it

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=137751&catid=3
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/21653742/detail.html
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/WSB_News_Van_Hits_Power_Line,_No_Injuries_111809

[wncc]

Wow! A Cox station creating sensationalism during sweeps.  I hope WSOC follows suit

[BRNout]

The station I worked at back in the late 80s and early 90s had a simiar incident.  The driver forgot to lower the mast and they hit the top of an underpass with it.  Saw the truck parked at the station and the mast was bent backward, looking somewhat like a misshapen paper clip!   

I recall a lot of discussion about how fortunate they were to not have hit power lines (as we see from the WSB example); but I'll bet that was one fun conversation that the videographer and reporter had with our news director when they walked back in to the station!!  IIRC, the station's insurance policy paid for the costly repairs to the live truck. 

[jal41]

http://liveapartmentfire.com/2009/11/20/aftershock/

Someone at WSB-TV apparently intentionally disabled the mast alarm. OSHA is investigating, and WSB-TV could face fines.

[Dave]

CBS affiliate WDJT Milwaukee Wisconsin had an incident happen to them back in January, where their truck was driven into a lake.  The driver thought it was a road, and found out that the ice broke from underneath the truck, and it sunk.  The truck had over $250,000 worth of damage in equipment.  I don't know what the amount of damage to the vehicle itself.

[azumanga]

http://liveapartmentfire.com/2009/11/20/aftershock/

Someone at WSB-TV apparently intentionally disabled the mast alarm. OSHA is investigating, and WSB-TV could face fines.

And whoever disabled the alarm could also face prison time as well (in my opinion).

[notalkallstatic]

As I said on the Atlanta TV Board:

Shocking!  (Okay, come on, someone had to say it!)

I find it interesting, that the most recent issue of TV Technology (11/4/09) has a story about this issue (ENG/SNG Trucks being too close to power lines.) (Page 35)

They actually show a "government surveillance/transmission vehicle" parked extremely close to some power lines. From the photo, it's way to close for my comfort.

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Also, I think everyone who works or has worked at a television station knows of an accident involving an ENG truck hitting power lines, or hitting a bridge becaues the mast wasn't down.