Man on motorcycle intentionally crashes to avoid being electrocuted in central Fresno

A man riding a motorcycle avoided electrocution after he intentionally crashed his bike Saturday night and slid off the roadway to avoid a downed power line.

The incident happened around 9 p.m. on Gettysburg Avenue near Blackstone Avenue.

Witnesses told police that moments prior, a white BMW had lost control and crashed into a power pole, knocking it down, before leaving the scene, according to Fresno police Lt. Tim Tietjen.

The motorcyclist managed to avoid serious injury, though his bike was wrecked.

“He’s alive today,” Tietjen said. “Quick thinking by him.”

Police were investigating to try to identify and locate the driver responsible for hitting the power pole.

Overhead power lines can carry more than 500,000 volts.

Touching one of the lines can provide a path for electricity to the ground and hurt or kill someone.

This story was originally published February 15, 2020 at 10:42 PM.