Over height question

Back in the early 1980’s I picked up a load of pallet racking in Vernon, Ca going to Chuckawalla state prison out by Blythe, Ca. The load looked tall so I checked it with a measuring tape. It was right at 14’, which is legal for California. I ran out I-10 and exited to go to the prison and phone wires and high tension power lines out there crossed the road going to the prison. Well, I snagged the phone lines. One, or more of those wires broke and flew up and hit the power lines. Sparks were flying all over. I pulled over and stopped because all the people going to work at the prison was slapping the roofs of their cars on the stretched out wires. Worried somebody might come through on a motorcycle I figured I’d better cut the stretch ones hanging over the road. I got out and grabbed some cutters and cut them free. I really didn’t even know what I was cutting and I was worried I might get electrocuted. Had to be done though. After that I went to the prison to get unloaded. As I’m rolling up my gear the warden came out and asked me if I knew what happened. He said somebody told me they saw me cutting some wires. I said yeah that was me, those wires were hanging to low and my load caught them, they must of sagged over the years. I told him my load is 14’ tall and that’s legal in California. He said well, you shorted out the prison and we can’t open any of the cells to let the inmates out to go eat breakfast. I said well, you probably better call the power company then. In a irritated voice he said yeah, I would but you took out our phones lines to. .

When I headed back towards LA the phone lines next to I-10 were stretch out and hanging a few feet off the ground for as far as I could see. I pulled off at Chiraco Summit, and at Dillion Rd to try and call the office to let them know I was empty. Both locations had no phones or power. This was when I was just getting started driving. Because of that incident though, I always break out my measuring tape and check every tall load. And every time I drive I-10 through the California desert I look over at that Prison and shake my head and think about it.

 

LOL.How about the shifted load and the light pole lmao? I still remember that story when you posted it on your forum.

 

Glad the worst I had was a few hundred yards of phone line hung on a piece of equipment. I drove home at night and found it the next morning. A close disaster was a concrete bridge in Nashville. I knew I was close to the height limit in a straight truck. Eased up and got out and looked. It was good several inches. Went, unloaded and wide open on the return. Under the bridge it sounded like total carnage but nothing was blowing out to be seen in the mirrors. When back at the warehouse I opened the door and saw no holes. Went up on top and found the top half of all the rivets were ground off.
Never shared that much. I was 18 years old. If that helps anyone else not have a disaster I am Ok with everyone else laughing at me.