So damned sad: 3 electrocuted in Idaho ditch trying to save dog

[cali]

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (AP) -- Three Idaho residents were electrocuted in an irrigation ditch - a woman after apparently trying to rescue a dog and two men who went into the water in an attempt to rescue her.

Bingham County officials found the bodies in the water Thursday about three miles northwest of Blackfoot.

Sheriff's Capt. Mark Crowley said 31-year-old Jacquelyn Paulson was reported missing at about 9:30 p.m. when she didn't return from a search for the family dog.

Two Blackfoot men - 41-year-old Michael Lance Hicks and 49-year-old Preston Keith Tarpley - apparently went in the water to rescue Paulson and also were electrocuted.


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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRRIGATION_DITCH_ELECTROCUTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-31-13-22-45


My deepest condolences to their families and the community. These were kind, fine people.

[HopeHoops]

1. It's sad, but any word on the dog? I'd go after mine. This just makes me want to cry.

[spanone]

2. k&r...

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Terribly sad. Those two Blackfoot men were selfless and who I would consider heroes.

[seabeyond]

4. taht always makes me so very sad when rescuer dies. nt

[Scuba]

5. I gotta ask - were downed power lines involved? The electric company saved millions but cost lives.

Burying power lines is expensive. Burying the victims of downed power lines is cheaper.

[ridingpbr]

9. Re: to your comment of life's being cheaper!

I sure hope you are not trying to be smart with the comment that said life's are cheaper to bury then burying power line because, in my book they are all hero's.

[Scuba]

11. My point is that the power companies put their profits over our lives.

Yes, they're heroes. But I'm tired of power company profits creating opportunities for heroes.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/29425159.html



Oh, welcome to DU!!!

[Kiya]

13. Law Suit

I don't see how the power companies will financially gain from such events since my family is in a huge lawsuit with Idaho Power sueing them for millions. But to each their own I guess "Scuba".

[Scuba]

14. The companies "gain" by going cheap on the installation - hiwires instead of buried lines ....

... at the expense of public safety.

[jmowreader]

10. Not at all...and in Idaho, it's very rare to see buried power lines

According to the article, an irrigation pump shorted out and energized the ditch. It also said Idaho Power cut the electricity so the bodies could be recovered.

In Idaho (especially North Idaho, but this incident was in the south), the frost line is deep enough, and so close to the bedrock, that they don't bury power lines.

[renate]

6. heroic indeed

This is so sad. There are worse ways to die than selflessly, but they were all so young...

[roguevalley]

7. there is no love so great than to lay down you life for another. Bless all of them.

They are in a better place with a sweet dog. IMO.

[sabrina 1]

8. That is so sad. They all were kind, caring people and heroes, all of them.

[cali]

12. yes, they were.

It's heartbreaking.