FL, Palm Bay: Family of 3 killed installing an antenna

carbineone · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 09:43 AM

A tragic story in Palm Bay FL, a mother, father, and their 15yr old son were killed installing an antenna after it fell over and struck a power line.

Family electrocuted putting up ham radio antenna

KJ6CFU · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 09:51 AM

Just saw that as well. Very tragic story indeed....

OK2BCK · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 04:16 AM

I can't believe they didn't see it coming. So wrong.

APTN · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 05:02 PM

This is terrible, but it does highlight the need for caution when working near live current.

n4rpd · #5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 05:51 PM

Horrible tragic story. Please be careful out there, their story should be a reminder to all of us to pay attention and respect power lines.

kb2vxa · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 07:51 AM

It may be tragic but good grief man, they violated RULE NUMBER ONE when working with antennas, they even come with warning labels! Here comes another Darwin Award, three of them.

KB3SKU · #7 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb2vxa

It may be tragic but good grief man, they violated RULE NUMBER ONE when working with antennas, they even come with warning labels! Here comes another Darwin Award, three of them.

That was mean,they were normally careful,it was a accident. They lost control of it

. Its not like they didn't know what they were doing,they have put others up in the past according to the news reports.

All 3 +1 Darwin Awards taken from them and shot back to you. The +1 is added for disrespecting the dead

I feel for the surviving family members,May God be with them thru this tragedy.

KB9NLL · #8 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 12:45 PM

All those pictures of vehicles and officials standing around (doing their jobs) they could of got one of the power pole/line how far away was it? all those pictures and only two of the pole one at the ground and the other stopped at a metal roofed shed wheres the other end where the antenna was? If they release it or even a sketch of how it happened/ details someone please post it here. It may be a learning experience.

kb2vxa · #9 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 10:46 PM

SKU, do you understand rule number one? No accident, stupidity and/or carelessness. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should any part of the antenna or supporting structure be allowed to come into contact with power lines. Never mind they lost control, had there been sufficient clearance even when it fell there would have been no contact.

I said it was tragic but mainly because it could have been avoided had they used a little foresight and planning. All foreseeable circumstances must be taken under consideration, always ask "If it falls where will it fall?" and plan accordingly. This consideration must be given always, after it's up it can still come down in a storm so do I suffer damage now or later? Am I cruel? Unsympathetic perhaps but what's cruel is electricity when disrespected.

"It may be a learning experience."
NLL, it is a learning experience just as it is, you don't need to know the details. All anyone need know is rule number one and you just learned the consequences of disregarding it or any part of it.

KB3SKU · #10 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb2vxa

SKU, do you understand rule number one? No accident, stupidity and/or carelessness. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should any part of the antenna or supporting structure be allowed to come into contact with power lines. Never mind they lost control, had there been sufficient clearance even when it fell there would have been no contact.

I said it was tragic but mainly because it could have been avoided had they used a little foresight and planning. All foreseeable circumstances must be taken under consideration, always ask "If it falls where will it fall?" and plan accordingly. This consideration must be given always, after it's up it can still come down in a storm so do I suffer damage now or later? Am I cruel? Unsympathetic perhaps but what's cruel is electricity when disrespected.

"It may be a learning experience."
NLL, it is a learning experience just as it is, you don't need to know the details. All anyone need know is rule number one and you just learned the consequences of disregarding it or any part of it.

Good morning,6:40am here.

Yes i understand rule Number 1 im paranoid about it always looking doing triple checks,but still we are all human no one is perfect.

Yea a learning experience too bad its permanent for the 3 members of the family

though.

I Wish human life wasn't so darn fragile

blinddog50 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 02:29 PM

"I Wish human life wasn't so darn fragile".

?

KB3SKU · #12 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinddog50

"I Wish human life wasn't so darn fragile".

?

Talking about the 3 that died.

N_Jay · #13 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinddog50

"I Wish human life wasn't so darn fragile".

?

That would just weaken the human species.

KB3SKU · #14 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N_Jay

That would just weaken the human species.

Wow just wow. Nice person lol

kma371 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 10:05 PM

Ok, lets not let this get out of hand..

N_Jay · #16 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB3SKU

Wow just wow. Nice person lol

1) You don't know me so you don't know if I am "nice" or not.

2) Sorry for responding to an off topic post.

3) It is easy to be "nice" when you don't consider the ramifications of your requests.

KB3SKU · #17 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kma371

Ok, lets not let this get out of hand..

Understood.

I Apologize for going off topic.

zerg901 · #18 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 12:10 PM

There was a similar incident in Tuolumne County Calif about 20 years ago. 3 people were killed putting up an antenna - husband, wife, and son IIRC. I think they were carrying the antenna up the driveway and a electric arc hit them as they passed a electrical wire. I believe the man was George Wright (Wight maybe). He was a scannerist, and a member of RCMA IIRC. I had corresponded with him. Very sad then & very sad now. Peter Sz