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Electrocution victim identified
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Posted on Dec 29 2008
The Department of Public Safety yesterday released the name of the man who was electrocuted while picking breadfruit using a metal pipe that came into contact with a power line in Chalan Kanoa Friday noon.
DPS public information officer Lei Ogumoro identified the victim as 33-year-old Mel Hal B. Ogarto Taitano.
According to the DPS report, police received a call of a person who got electrocuted at a residence just across Glory Market at the corner of Dolores St. and Chalan Kanoa Drive around 12:15pm on Dec. 26, 2008.
Initial police investigation said the victim, after asking permission from the tree owner, climbed up the breadfruit tree inside the private residence and used a metal pipe to pick the edible fruit. Unfortunately, the pipe accidentally touched the live wire, causing his instant death.
The police report said the power line ran through the breadfruit tree.
Witnesses said it took about an hour for rescuers to get the man’s body down from the tree. He was then immediately transported to the hospital.
In a routine check yesterday at the place of the incident, the 50-foot tree had already been cut down.
According to the police, a male witness, who was on the ground at the time the victim was electrocuted, immediately climbed up the tree to help bring the victim down.
DPS said police authorities arrived at the scene and quickly advised the witness not to attempt to bring the victim down as both he and the victim risk falling from the tree.
Police also observed black smoke coming from the top of the tree.
DPS said that medics, a ladder truck, and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. were quickly summoned to the scene. A CUC lineman was able to climb up the power pole and disable the power line.
Also present during the rescue were members of the Fire Division rescue units, who brought down the body.
The victim was then transported to the Commonwealth Health Center where he was pronounced dead upon arrival at 1:08pm by Dr. Macris.
Police investigators found a six-foot metal pipe with metal hooks on one end lying on the roadway at the accident scene. Police said they found black burn marks on the pipe.
