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Light pole blown over at high school game

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Twirling Time, Mar 11, 2019.

  1. Twirling Time

    Twirling Time Well-Known Member

    This is harrowing video. Fortunately the worst injury was a broken leg.

     
  2. poindexter

    poindexter Well-Known Member

    Is it that hard with your phone to get a video off your monitor of just the monitor? Not the furniture in the background?

    For pete's sake, it is 2019.
     
  3. Scout

    Scout Well-Known Member

    Many light poles are made out of metal, most probably, and if there is a leak at the top, they will rust at the base.

    They probably should be inspected everywhere.
     
  4. Inky_Wretch

    Inky_Wretch Well-Known Member

    There was a hellacious wind blowing through Arkansas that day. Sustained wind of 30-plus in many places and gusts topping 50.

    And that linesman and player were damn lucky to not be killed.
     
  5. Starman

    Starman Well-Known Member

    Watching the video, most of the players on the field never had a clue the light tower was coming down. Most barely even moved until after it hit.

    Why would you? Who ever looks up at the light towers in the middle of a day game? And of course there's a major factor of disbelief/ incomprehension.

    So yeah, all these guys are damn lucky--you get under that, and it's lights out in more ways than one.
     
  6. Batman

    Batman Well-Known Member

    In soccer, even the light poles flop.
     
  7. Batman

    Batman Well-Known Member

    Watching the video a couple more times, that kid taking the throw in might be the luckiest son of a bitch in Arkansas. He picks up the ball, and literally three seconds later the pole falls where he grabbed it at. If he hadn't been trying to hurry up the play it would have driven him into the ground like a tent stake.
     
  8. Steak Snabler

    Steak Snabler Well-Known Member

    You can see the referee's leg snap if you watch closely (assuming you want to).

    And I'd assume the school district is going to owe the old boy some money.
     
  9. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Gruesome. And as someone said, might be time for other districts to inspect the light poles. Can't say it can never happen.
     
  10. Starman

    Starman Well-Known Member

    I'd guess the insurance carriers, who could be on the hook for bazillions, will insist on that very shortly.

    And light towers are things that tend to just stand there for years and years, maybe replacing light bulbs as needed, otherwise rarely even looked at. I'd guess a yearly inspection for rust, cracks, water damage, etc etc, will become standard.
     
  11. Twirling Time

    Twirling Time Well-Known Member

    There were at least a dozen opening-week football games relocated in the DFW area in (I think) 2011, because a light pole failed somewhere on account of high winds. Every location where the light pole company (which had gone bankrupt years before) had installed poles had to stop down and inspect their poles for safety. Because this is ONE case where a drooping pole is not good.
     
  12. Twirling Time

    Twirling Time Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Mar 11, 2019
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