WSB-TV Mast into Powerlines

[NEWSSHOOTER3]

Look up and live! WSB-TV ran their mast into power lines today. Thankfully, everyone is okay!

Our Story:

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/21655819/index.html


More Info:

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/21653742/detail.html

[cameradog]

Interlocks?

[iHD]

I'm amazed that these trucks will even go into gear when the mast is up. I wonder if they were being rushed to another location by the desk?

[Chicago Dog]

Reporter Tom Jones and his photographer were able to get out safely. Their conditions were not immediately released.

Man, a photog can't get no love even when he destroys a $300,000 hybrid satellite/microwave truck!

Look up and live!

[supedog]

I know the Photog and Reporter personally, and I am glad they will be OK.

I worked in local news for at least 13 years as a Photog, and drove a live truck every shift. We learned coming up through the business, Look Up, and Live. Don't rely on the safety alarms or gadgets that let you know you mast or dish are not secure. Eyeball that Mast/Dish, and make sure it's DOWN!

I can't believe that the Photog allegedly drove away from their live shot, down the road, and hit power lines. That Photog has been in the business for well over 10 years.

Again, I'm glad they'll be OK, but unfortunately, neglegence may cost the Photog his job.


Videos from incident on YouTube already:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSW53lSWve4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvkWpaBmLRM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa9hqn7l5GY

More Info:

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/21653742/detail.html

[Ben Longden]

A local rescue squad road rescue truck did the same thing here a week ago. They were doing a public display at McDonalds for McHappy day, and had the light tower up.

One member closed all the shutter doors at the end of the gig, but didnt look up. Driver hopped in and took off, assuming (the operative word) that the truck was clear to go; he did not look up.

The mast collected a 66Kv line and tore that down and blacked out three blocks for about four hours.

Turns out there IS a warning light on the dash panel, but the bright sunlight swamped it so the driver didnt see it. There are no interlocks at all, and this is a state govt vehicle..

Trucks off the road for the next three months...

Ben

[javary]

I hope those guys are OK. Crazy that the electricity would rupture a water main too. Be careful out there, kiddos!

[HokiePhotog]

Wow. And that all could have been avoided by doing a walk-around (while looking up, mind you) before leaving their live shot location. For me, that's standard practice as it should be for everyone in this business.

We need to remember that there is no story or deadline that should ever make us sacrifice safety. EVER.

I'm DEFINITELY glad the crew involved is okay (and DARN lucky to have only escaped with minor injuries).

[Alx]

I feel for this driver and hope everyone recovers.

There is no substitute for looking up, however was there a safety lockout?

Mast up = transmission lock or engine kill switch if you take it out of park.

[NEWSSHOOTER3]

Everyone is fine. The were checked out and nobody was seriously injured... just damn lucky!!!

[SamG]

re: Interlocks

All our trucks since 2000 have had the interlocks in. However, one truck built in '94 could not have the interlock put in for some reason. That truck has since been retired.

Also, our interlocks are physical mast pins that the operators (photogs) must physically put in place after the mast lowers (the pin is attached to the top of the mast and rides up with the mast). If the wire holding the pin breaks (or something else happens that allows the truck to drive with the mast up), the truck is down until it's fixed. News/Engineering/GM are all on board with that.

We also have two additional interlocks added to our most recent trucks... one if the jacks are down, and another if the shore power cable is connected (senses power so if the house breaker is popped, the interlock won't do anything).

[HokiePhotog]

(Repost of my post from another thread)

Wow. And that all could have been avoided by doing a walk-around (while looking up, mind you) before leaving their live shot location. For me, that's standard practice as it should be for everyone in this business.

We need to remember that there is no story or deadline that should ever make us sacrifice safety. EVER.

I'm DEFINITELY glad the crew involved is okay (and DARN lucky to have only escaped with minor injuries).

[Latin Lens]

I can't seem to tell just how long the photog was actually driving for....and the only reason I ask is because was there no wind resistance that might have tipped him off that something was weird...no swaying or anything like that to help clue him in that the mast was still up?

[Rad]

So Newsshooter... what's the word on the interlock system on that truck? No alarm? Failed or disabled?

Tell Leonard his friends at the big five are glad he's OK

[NEWSSHOOTER3]

Not sure, RAD. I'm sure all that will come out soon & will do!

[Baltimore Shooter]

According to the videos, the Reporter didn't check to make sure the mast was down. It's not just the Photog's job to make sure the mast is down. The Reporter is in the truck too and his life is also as risk. It would behoove the Reporter to look up as well.

Not laying any blame here, but just like players on a field, they need to back each other up.

Warren

[n8riggs]

Originally Posted by Alx

I feel for this driver and hope everyone recovers.

There is no substitute for looking up, however was there a safety lockout?

Mast up = transmission lock or engine kill switch if you take it out of park.

I agree.

I have gotten in to my truck and even when the mast is sticking a quarter of an inch up, the truck has a high pitch safety siren that goes off and locks the ignition.

That truck looked a little out dated though. I'm glad that those guys are alright.

[shootercub]

Originally Posted by Latin Lens

I can't seem to tell just how long the photog was actually driving for....

100 yards, minimum.

[Horonto]

Glad no one was seriously injured.

Walk around that vehicle folks, look up, down and all around prior to driving away.

[JimmyS.]

I'm glad that Leonard and Tom are okay and thankfully no bystanders were involved. That coulda been disatrous. Oh my God, what a nightmare for those two. I truly hope management understands that this was an accident and doesn't fire them. We all make mistakes, you know. Some are obviously worse than others, such as this one.

I was staring at the pictures and videos. This truck doesn't look so old. I know the question has been asked several times, but did someone disconnect the alarm system? Almost all trucks built after '97 had the alarms installed for the mast, stabilizers, sat dish and such. This truck was a hybrid, it had to have had the alarm functions in it, unless they were disconnected. I really feel for those two and hope they don't lose their jobs over this.