Crash Traps Couple Under Power Lines For Two Hours

By Grayson Kamm First Coast News

HAMPTON, FL -- A violent crash along US 301 between Jacksonville and Gainesville sent a spinning car into a power pole, trapping an elderly couple under live electrical wires for almost two hours.

Transformers sent off showers of sparks and wires draped across the crashed car at around 10 a.m. Monday when the two cars slammed into each other near Hampton in Bradford County.

Rescuers had to wait while an FPL lineman dangled himself over the tangled web of wires. Below him sat an elderly couple, trapped inside the car, pinned under the live lines and broken power pole.

Deputies detoured traffic around the wreck. Workers cut power for miles in each direction. With the wires dead, linemen were able to ground the lines strung across the car and let rescuers move in.

With the electricity off, one person was easy to move. But firefighters had to slice open the car to get to the other victim. Both victims were awake and talking as they were taken to the hospital.

In all, they spent almost 120 minutes trapped and terrified.

Edited by:	Created: 9/25/2006 4:09:54 PM Updated: 9/25/2006 8:10:31 PM Suggest News Tips & Story Leads Submit Video & Pictures