Updated: 10/21/2009 5:27:09 PM
A would-be copper thief in Vonore suffered a horrible shock and may not survive his injuries, police said.
Vonore emergency responders arrived at the Loudon Utilities substation Monday night to find a truck driven by Jane Marie Theurer, 34, had driven through the fence.
They also found 37-year-old Carl Michael Cross stuck to a regulator, badly shocked, and on fire. Emergency responders extinguished Cross and sent him to UT Medical Center, which sent him along to Vanderbilt for treatment.
He is in critical condition there at last check.
The narrative that Vonore Police Chief John Hines has been able to piece together starts with Theurer driving Cross to the substation to steal power. Theurer waited outside while Cross climbed the fence and began cutting copper ground wire. He then climbed atop a 12-foot regulator and was trying to cut wire off of it when he received the electric shock.
At that point, Hines said, Theurer rammed the fence with her truck to try to save Cross.
Cross suffered a shock of 14,400 volts.
Theurer has been charged with criminal trespass. Cross may face charges of interference with a utility, theft, and trespass, if he survives his injuries.
The incident occurred just before 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
