Watch CBS News

Lakewood Man, 63, Shocked By Downed Power Line

LAKEWOOD (CBS) —  A 63-year-old man was shocked while trying to move a burning car set aflame by a downed wire in Lakewood, officials said Sunday.

The incident happened at about 8 a.m.in the 5500 block of Premiere Avenue, Lt. Eric Lindblom of the Lakewood sheriff's station said.

"A wire went down starting a fire on a car," Lindblom said. "A neighbor went to tell the owner of the car about the fire and said he would move the car for him."

Lindblom said that on the way to move the 2004 Mazda 3 the man pressed the "unlock" button on the keys "and the electric charge transferred to him."

The man was taken to Lakewood Regional Medical Center in unknown condition, Lindblom said.

The car sustained $10,000 in damages and a wooden fence was also damaged, estimated at about $500, Lindblom said.

"We are aware of the situation and we are investigating," said Scott Andresen of Southern California Edison. "We've been out there all day."

The cause of the downed wire was unknown.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.