LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Copper wire theft has had a major impact on the Vegas Valley over the last couple of years. Clark County says 184 miles of wire has been stolen since 2022.
Now, copper wire theft has led to two City of Las Vegas workers critically injured. Seven weeks later, both remain in the hospital.
“I can remember most of the accident. I can remember going up and then at the snap of a finger, I remember being shocked…and that very easily could have been it for me,” shared Roger Alvarado. Alvarado has worked for the City of Las Vegas Public Works for two years fixing traffic signals and streetlights, especially replacing stolen lines.
“That is where a lot of our work is currently coming from is copper wire theft. It hits a lot; I mean it is all over the valley. The copper wire theft, it so bad that we decided to put streetlight wires overhead,” Alvarado described.
On June 6, Alvarado and a co-worker were adding those new overhead lines.
“We had to run the copper wire or the new aluminum wire, so we went up in the bucket to do that I guess we got too close to the NV Energy high voltage line and it just jumped to us…I passed out for maybe 10 seconds and he was out a lot longer than me, so I told them to take him,” Alvarado recounted.
Alvarado’s co-worker, Tommy Weiland, went in the first ambulance and was rushed to UMC. He has had six surgeries so far and more are planned. He has lost his right foot.
“My injuries were a lot worse than I had imagined, it was scary. It was a whirlwind of emotions for me,” Alvarado confessed.
Alvarado has had ten surgeries with more planned. He his lost his right hand and left foot.
“I have had a lot of trouble at the start. It was a lot harder, there was a lot more pain involved, everything was new to me,” Alvarado stated. Life will change in a big way for both men once they are released from the hospital. Both families have started GoFundMe accounts to help with that transition.
The thieves who targeted the streetlights stole much more than just copper, their actions nearly stole part of two men, and nearly stolen their lives. “Unfortunately for me, someone else’s action ended up with…my life changed,” Alvarado contended.
Alvarado missed his own wedding because of the accident. It was supposed to be a week after he was injured.
The City of Las Vegas says due to health privacy laws they are unable comment on the condition of their employees but say everyone at the city is wishing for a speedy recovery.
Here are links to their fundraising accounts:
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