Here are two press releases on the skydiver who crashed into the power lines at the winter carnival. The first is from CVPS, the second is from Bratt PD.


Skydiver crashes into power line, but escapes unharmed

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. -- A Massachusetts skydiver participating in the Brattleboro Winter Carnival crashed into a 7,200-volt power line Saturday, but walked away unharmed.

"I've never seen anything like it in my entire career," said Dave Miller, operations supervisor for Central Vermont Public Service's Brattleboro District. "He is one of the luckiest people I've ever met."

The skydiver was supposed to land in front of a large crowd in Brattleboro Memorial Park as part of the annual carnival, but shifting winds caused him to crash into the power line on Maple Street, at the park's edge.

"He came down on one side of the ines and his parachute came down on the other side," CVPS spokesman Steve Costello said. "There are four wires on the pole where he landed, and he somehow threaded the needle between all four and escaped unharmed."

CVPS Power Systems Controller Joe Barbagallo shut off the circuit immediately after receiving word of the incident at 1:58 p.m., cutting electrical service to 3,029 customers in Brattleboro, Marlboro, Guilford, Dummerston and Newfane. CVPS line workers John Mulherin, Jeff Robinson and John Gorton, along with Miller, responded to the scene and were assisted by local fire and police officials.

The uninjured skydiver was taken down from the line by members of the Brattleboro Fire Department. CVPS was able to restore power to some of the affected customers at 2:22 p.m., and after CVPS workers repaired damaged equipment, service was restored to all customers at 3:13 p.m.

Barbagallo, a 42-year veteran at CVPS said he could not believe the skydiver escaped uninjured.

"I don't know how he walked away from this," Barbagallo said.


BRATTLEBORO- On Feb. 21, at approximately 13:45 hours (1:45 pm for you civilians - Maus), Brattleboro Police responded to the Living Memorial Park on Guilford Street in Brattleboro for the report of a skydiver into the power lines. Upon arrival, Guilford Street was closed to traffic, as a skydiver had been blone into the power lines on Guilford Street in front of the park. WInter carnival was in progress at the park, and upon making a jump, the skydiver was taken into the wires by a strong wind gust. Fortunately, the skydiver was able to grasp and cling to a transformer until he could be safely taken down. With the assist of the Brattleboro Fire Department ladder truck and CVPS, the power was temporarily cut, so as the skydiver could be removed from the pole/transformer using the ladder truck. There were no injuries in the incident.