College student (utility lineman program) dies after fall

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110319/NEWS01/110319571/0#college-student-dies-after-fall

By Emerson Clarridge
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A Metropolitan Community College student fell from a utility pole to his death during a training exercise Saturday.

The student, a 31-year-old man, was not identified in a statement issued by college police.

He was a member of the college's utility lineman program.

He fell about 27 feet from the pole just after 11 a.m. at the Applied Technology Center at 104th and State Streets, said Mark Sundermeier,
deputy police chief for the college.

The student was taken by helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center, where he died.

The Irvington Fire Department and Douglas County Sheriff's Office assisted in the investigation.

[ClarkUSA]

1. That's tragic. He's an older guy trying to better himself and this happens.

I feel badly for his family.

[dkf]

2. Funny you rarely hear about accidents like this.

[TheMadMonk]

3. Because normally they would be reported locally or not at all.

Tree fellers fall out of trees, linesmen fall off utility poles and plumbers fall off roofs. These thing go with the territory.

And much of the time they'll tell you, the worst injury is to their pride. Though it is interesting to note the number of older members of "climbing" professions that end up as punchdrunk as a prizefighter.