A bizarre and dangerous incident in Salt Lake City, Utah, left more than 800 homes without power after a woman scaled a high-voltage transformer inside an electrical substation. Authorities described the situation as unprecedented, requiring immediate action to prevent potential electrocution.
The woman, seen gripping tall cylindrical insulators while suspended horizontally, climbed onto the transformer in the substation near Gladiola Street and Decade Drive. She reportedly damaged the equipment during her climb, prompting electric crews to shut down power to the area as a precaution.
Eyewitness video, now viral on social media, shows her gripping the structure like a "vine," all while emergency responders attempted to coax her down. Crews surrounded her using cherry pickers, but she reportedly resisted by kicking at the equipment and clinging to a wire.
🚨#BREAKING: More than 800 Utah Homes Lost Power After Woman Climbs on a High Voltage Transformer Inside Substation
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) November 14, 2024
📌#SaltLakeCity | #Utah
Authorities and electric crews responded to a call in Salt Lake City, Utah, after a woman damaged power equipment and climbed a… pic.twitter.com/pDDgRn3jqW
The woman was eventually subdued using a less-lethal weapon and was transported to the hospital. Police later described the event as a mental health episode.
Power was restored to the area after crews ensured the safety of the site and repaired the equipment.
Source: Times Now, Twitter