Two Good Samaritans Tragically Killed Trying to Help Crash Victim, Six Others Injured
- Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:50pm by
Becket Adams
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LOS ANGELES (TheBlaze/AP) — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa paid tribute to eight Good Samaritans who suffered electric shocks as they ran to the scene of a traffic accident, including two women who were killed when they stepped into a pool of electrified water.
In a press conference Thursday, Villaraigosa and safety officials cautioned civilians who respond to accidents to assess their own safety before rushing to help others.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (Richard Vogel/AP)
Downed electric lines may have been hard to see after an SUV hit a pole, a fire hydrant and a tree in front of a Valley Village-area home on Wednesday night.
“It may have been that because of how dark it was, the tree, the car, how it happened, these individuals may not have even known there was a downed power line,” said Villaraigosa.
Fire chief Brian Cummings said the first woman to respond inadvertently stepped on live wire and was immediately electrocuted.
A second woman tried to help her and was electrocuted as well.
The women lay in the electrified pool of water, which continued to grow with the gush of the broken hydrant.
Firefighters take an injured Good Samaritan to an ambulance as water gushes from hydrant in Los Angeles on Wednesday Aug. 22 (Rick McClure/AP)
As more people approached the scene to help, more were shocked.
The husband of one of the women who was killed, Irma Zamora, told her not to rush toward the accident but she ran to help, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Local resident Sue Kochoo told the newspaper that the husband was screaming for his wife when she arrived at the scene.
Fire spokesman Jaime Moore said the man had to be restrained from rescuing his wife, after being shocked while trying.
The survivors had minor injuries.
Los Angeles fire captain Cristian Granucci examines the wreckage of a car as water from a fire hydrant sits gushes out behind it after the crash (Rick Mcclure/AP)
Cummings urged good Samaritans to use caution and to call 911 immediately after an accident, pledging that his department will do everything to be there as quickly as possible.
Cummings said fire crews were on the scene minutes after being called Wednesday night.
Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter.
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CommonSenseTalk
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 7:10pmMost people are good at heart and will help other people in need. The media and big government want you to think the only way to help others is to have the government do it. I‘m sure you will see commercials telling people to watch out for power lines and don’t just help, call 911 and wait. The brainwashing continues.
These people risk their lives for others and will be blessed forever.
Report Post »kcsparky
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 2:27pmI will pray for the family’s of the victims that they will find peace somehow. Real question is what is going to happen to the 19 year old chowderhead who caused great death and injury because he was being idiotically stupid and driving far too fast in that neighborhood? My opinion…..he should be charged with 2 counts of Involuntary Manslaughter, 8 counts of Negligence and driving privileges revoked for 5 years!
Report Post »Ashton Xander
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 11:00amUnfortunate people. Let’s pray for their soul and spirits. I just wonder why these good people end with a bad one. Meanwhile, Raz Silberman said “the point is, everything can – and should be – measured.” I want his articles which have thought me so many things. Get to know more of his to http://rsilberman.com/?p=449
Report Post »termyt
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 9:46amGreater love has no man than he who would lay down his life for a friend.
Report Post »dullsville
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 9:18amThis is a tragic reminder that the idea “we have to do something” isn’t always applicable.
Report Post »SuttonShimai
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 8:45amAnother thing to be cautious of is approaching a hybrid car after an accident. Paramedics are taught not to go near the victims until a trained person arrives on the scene who can determine if the car is safe to approach. The *^&%(# batteries in those things are extremely high voltage and an accident can cause the batteries to come in contact with the frame and body of the car.
Report Post »CNCFan
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 11:03amThink you may be referring to AMPS.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 12:49pmMore people will be electrocuted than die in a fire. Score another one for progressives. They CARE!
Report Post »1forthegoodguy
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 3:16pmGood job. Turning a tragic accident into a case against “green energy” hybrid vehicles and progressives. Like a virus or bacteria, you guys are ever-opportunistic.
Report Post »Medic109
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 7:51amThat’s a sad story, especially since the crash victims had minor injuries. On Friday I was just teaching my 1st year Paramedic class about scene safety and was using this very kind of MVC as an example. This has happened many, many times. Remember “scene safe??.. PPE”
Report Post »StopLyingToMe
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 7:28amThis is a tragic story, but also uplifting in the sense that these people rushed to help strangers who were in need. My prayers go out for everyone involved. As for the poster who thinks we don‘t really care about people we don’t know, you’re really just projecting your own self-centered perspective on the rest of us, and it’s not accurate. But if you don’t understand, explaining won’t help.
Report Post »Homeschoolmama
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 9:34pmToo bad GI Joe isn’t still on to remind us to be careful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO2Zjfj3aJs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iudhsCUlTk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Report Post »face.chewer
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 4:04pmFlashback to 1965
http://www.usustatesman.com/2.5355/forty-years-later-wayne-estes-remembered-1.565340#.UDfdUtaPUhE
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:56pmThere is honor in someone trying to help people they don’t know. Jesus says there is no greater honor.
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:39pmbe a capable samaritan. Another thing…if you think someone is trying to break into your house….do not turn the lights on!!
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 9:08amI don’t think those two scenarios are related at all
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:34pmAwe come on be brutally honest – do you really care when someone dies you don’t know? The reality is that it cheapens the feelings you have for people you do know who dies. Why? Because the dead are preoccupied with mourning the dead.
Report Post »Medic109
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 8:01amEach man’s death diminishes me,
Report Post »For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee…John Donne
Kupo
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:31pmBan electricity!
Report Post »DRT_7.62_BTHP
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 4:06pmBan from the federal level. It will save lives
Report Post »DRT_7.62_BTHP
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 4:07pmBan driving while we’re at it.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:31pmMost people wouldn‘t even have known it happened if it wasn’t for the news reporting it. Then when someone people actually know dies they question whether the sympathy they are giving seems genuine enough, because they have been faking sympathy for so long when hearing news reports.
Report Post »Landon410
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:22pmwow, thats sad
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:37pmIt’s more sad that there are children who are alive getting dumbed down at schools. Big fat liars – if you don’t care about the living – you don’t care about the dead.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 4:21pmI agree with both comments to the nth degree.
Report Post »ObamaBinBiden
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 6:25pmeasy watersrpeople, this is tragic, and most people read the story and put themselves or loved ones in the shoes of those that died. you’re off topic with the indoctrination of our children bit.
Report Post »pap pap
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:20pmIt must have been horrible for that man to see his wife getting electrocuted and he couldn’t do anything about it. OMG that sucks. May God be with him.
Report Post »bobefann
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:17pmHate that this had to happen to good people and I feel for their families. Using Liberal Logic, maybe we should ban electricity.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:16pmWhy don’t we have an eletrical grid that shuts down as soon as a wire is severed or compromised?
Oh yeah, that’s right, because we spend all our money on welfare brats.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:09pmBlessed are those who lay down their lives for a friend.
Report Post »BryanB
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:58pmWell God Bless them for thinking of others…………
Report Post »GlennaBeckski
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:04pmAmen… the Human Spirit is a Beautiful thing.
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