Watch above: An early morning stunt could have cost people their lives, and now RCMP are trying to track down those responsible. Kendra Slugoski reports.
EDMONTON – Strathcona County RCMP responded to a call about a possible body hanging from a power line on Wye Road Friday morning before confirming it was actually a mannequin.
Someone driving by called the RCMP after seeing what looked like a body hanging from the power line on the main road east of Highway 216 at about 6:30 a.m.
Police received at least two calls about it.
“How could you not get distracted with that hanging there?” asked Cpl. Darren Anderson. He said there were no traffic crashes because of the prank.
The RCMP had to call in Strathcona County Emergency Services to help get the mannequin down.
“Our standard response to rescue incidents – we send out two rescue equipped trucks, both staffed with four members each, and a command vehicle as well,” said Strathcona County Deputy Fire Chief Devin Capcara. “This morning we backed that up with members from our technical rescue team.”
The second truck was quickly stood down.
Paramedics say they responded to a similar incident last August.
“When we’re dealing with something like this, we’re not available to deal with … an actual emergency,” explained Capcara.
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Officers are calling the prank a “dummy move.”
“This is certainly concerning to us,” said Anderson.
“Any time you are dealing with power lines there is a potential for danger not only to our responders but to whoever was responsible for putting the mannequin there in the first place.”
Meanwhile, the RCMP deputy chief told Global News a lot of resources had to be used. Fortis was called in, and then AltaLink – which owns the line – to help remove the mannequin. Emergency Services were also on scene as a safety precaution as crews worked on the line and also to keep the area clear of people.
“We are deeply concerned by this act,” said AltaLink spokesperson Peter Brodsky.
“It is not only a disturbing sight for people and a dangerous distraction for area commuters, but a significant safety risk as well.
“Contact with an energized high-voltage transmission line can result in severe injury or death and can cut power to essential services, businesses and homes in the area. Safety is the highest priority for AltaLink and we urge everyone to stay a safe distance from all energized facilities,” explained Brodsky.
“This is a 500 kilovolt line,” he added. “The power going through that line is significant and contact with that line would guarantee severe injury and likely death.”
AltaLink said the mannequin was hanging from the tower, not an energized line, so the company didn’t have to shut off power. However, it was close to a live line.
“We didn’t have to cut the power to the line to do it, because our guys in the bucket truck are trained for close proximity – what we call ‘hot work’,” said Brodsky. “That means they can work around energized lines. Still the threat of injury to our workers and to people in the vicinity was quite high when a stunt like this happens.”
The mannequin was dressed in red Proban coveralls, a black balaclava, and work gloves.
Officials are now asking for the public’s help investigating this crime.
Charges of mischief could likely be laid, said Anderson. However, their first priority is catching the person responsible. The deputy chief could not say if other charges could be laid.
If you have any information, you are asked to call the Strathcona County RCMP detachment at (780) 467-7741 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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