RCMP and Fire Chief Mark Loewen near downed lines


A man was knocked off his scooter Wednesday afternoon on Home Street in Steinbach following a run in with some low hanging wires.  Fire Chief Mark Loewen says an older gentleman was driving a small scooter down the street just before 3pm.  Some telephone and cable lines had previously been pulled or knocked down and he didn't see them.  Someone tried to wave him off but he didn't see it and he struck the wires.

Loewen says the man got banged up pretty good but expects he will be alright.  Loewen notes these are phone and cable lines and not hydro lines.  They are dangerous because they are lying across the road but not dangerous to touch.  He thinks sometimes lines sag over time and larger vehicles pull them down and don't even notice it.  Often if MTS doesn't respond to the scene the fire crews will cut the lines and throw them to the side of the road to ensure safety for other people.  Loewen is quick to add if hydro lines are down the Hydro people are very quick to respond and make repairs.