Man burned after climbing over fence into power substation

by CHRIS NORWOOD

06/26/2010

TALLADEGA — A Talladega man sustained burns over about 90 percent of his body after climbing a fence into an Alabama Power substation on Stephen J. White Memorial Blvd. early Friday morning.

Police Chief Alan Watson said Willie Eugene Lewis scaled the fence around the substation sometime before 2 a.m. Friday. He then began climbing on some of the equipment, grabbing on with both hands.

Some 44,000 volts of electricity proceeded to pass through his body, burning the clothes off his back and burning off his genitals. In spite of this, Lewis was able to walk to the emergency room of Citizens Baptist Medical Center on his own.

Watson said Lewis would have had to climb back over the fence in order to do this.

Emergency room staff notified police, Watson said.

Lewis was admitted in critical condition, and was eventually airlifted to the burn center at UAB Hospital. Watson said he was listed in stable condition Friday afternoon.

Alabama Power spokesman Brandon Glover confirmed the company had been informed of a trespassing complaint at one of their substations, but said he could not provide any further details.

Watson could not say exactly what Lewis might have been doing inside the fenced substation, but alcohol should not be ruled out as a factor.

From: http://www.dailyhome.com/view/full_story/8060343/article-Man-burned-after-climbing-over-fence-into-power-substation?instance=home_right