Monster truck soars too high, causing injuries and panic at event in Topsham

Mike Hersom grabbed his son in the nick of time, just missing a transformer as it was swinging to the ground from a downed utility pole.

[shadowsniper]

It’s not the trucks fault it’s the event organizers

[Ryebread]

He didn't jump to high.
They built the jump in the Wrong Damn Place.

[gregwelch]

Who is the Einstein that put a jump around electric wires 🤔 ⚡ 🥺

[pulaski]

"We put the wires higher" sounds more like a challenge than a safety improvement.

[jcoffey]

I see six small children and a person in a wheel chair all being hovered over and protected by able bodied people. I also see a huge transformer hanging on to it's wires keeping it from hitting anyone. This could have been so much worse. Shout out to the heros protecting the vunerable.

[PaulTierney-nbqe]

This kid will have the best story at show and tell.

[randygreen]

As a NASCAR fan I can say that the wrecks usually are more exciting and get talked about more than the actual win itself. I’m just glad no one was electrocuted during this event.

[OpSic]

Seems like everything there was a failure. Power lines OVER an event arena? A transformer that came loose from a pole (did the retention bolts fail? Was the transformer old and did not have bends in the retention tabs to secure it if the bolts were loose?) What an absolute failure all around.

[Vskate]

I’ve never seen overhead wires at any track. Imagine if someone has to be flown out!

[randywl]

Billy Bobs track hasn't been updated since they jumped stage coaches in 1860

[peterpiper]

"It's possible the organizers didn't take the correct safety precautions" sure sounds like lawyer speak.

[justmedontknowdoyou]

I'm from the area this happened. So just some FYI ...There was no power to those lines or transformer..And the track is a horse track. Hence no fast or high speed vehicles.

[Sir_Wellington]

Maybe, just maybe, now I could be completely wrong here but is it possible that MAYBE you might put the ramp anywhere else than right by the power line? Considering it’s pretty small overall and you have a HUGE amount of area around your track.

[johnsmith]

Why do they have electric cables running right above the event ground to begin with? Build those lines to go around instead of straight across.

There are no power lines across the event grounds at my park. We don't want tractors at a pull raising up and hitting one.

[thejeffrandallproject]

Who would have thought low power lines above a jump could have been a factor?!!!! As the truck driver do you also not look over the track run and evaluate any concerns? “Hmmm power lines right over a big jump, I should be fine!”

[Eduardo_Espinoza]

Why is the volume levels out of whack?

[MrSlingblade]

Part of your ticket stub says the track is not responsible for any injuries.

[DaveC_TN]

There's luck. Then there's extremely fortunate. And then there's miraculous...

This father and son were extremely fortunate!! Great location, quick thinking, and Jedi-like reflexes saved them from the transformer's fall. Great job Dad!!

Then there's the dude in the greenish/gray shirt with his son - the ones who got tangled in the wires for a second. Now THEY are recipients of a true miracle!! Those lines they got hit by appear to be insulated and were probably de-energized within 1/2 second of touching them. They were truly blessed and wrapped in the arms of God!!


Glad there are no serious injuries or deaths. That could have been MUCH worse!!

As for the repairs raising the wire and using taller poles...

REALLY?!?!?!

BURY THAT WIRE 3' UNDERGROUND!!! It'll only cost a little more and will make SURE this NEVER happens again!!!

[matthewbaynham]

When repairing the wires why not replace with underground cables?

[mattvandyken]

Don't raise the wire. Dig a trench way under ground, protect the wires from pressure and bury them