ATL Report – Atlanta News and Gossip

Wow, what a rush!

WSB-TV reporter Tom Jones and photographer Leonard Raglin were leaving the Fulton County jail yesterday in their van but forgot to take the mast down. It hit a power line, coursing 115,000 volts of energy into the van and the crowd, causing a loud explosion, destroyed the truck and generated a crater in the asphalt. Neither the AJC story nor the WSB story said who was driving though Doug Richards on his blog said it was Raglin.

Fortunately, both men survived with smoke inhalation and minor burns.

“Georgia Power workers on the scene were surprised anyone lived, said an APD spokesman in a statement. “The 115,000 volts traveled through the vehicle and ground, also hitting and destroying a water main which caused water to be out in the area.”

The mast is the telescoping pole used to send out live signals. It’s supposed to be lowered before putting the vehicle in motion. Richards provides some perspective about how an alarm should go off when the van …