High-voltage power line cut near Lake Merced
uthorities say someone tried to cut a 12,000-volt Pacific Gas and Electric Co. covered ground line near Lake Merced, causing a power outage to 540 people for about an hour and possibly causing a serious injury to the cutter.
Fire crews responded to a small fire on a power pole and a grassy area just after 2:55 p.m. at 655 John Muir Drive, near the Pacific Rod and Gun Club. PG&E officials told the police that the person who cut the line may have been seriously injured.
Lt. Ken Smith of the fire department said evidence at the scene suggested the culprit had indeed suffered burns to hands and upper body.
“The first on scene thought they ought to be finding a body here somewhere,” Smith said, but no body was found. “It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”
He asked anyone who knows of someone who had suffered significant burns to contact investigators at 415-553-1351.