Salt Lake City Woman Climbs Transformer, Knocks Out Power to 800 Homes

A mental health crisis in Salt Lake City led to a power outage affecting more than 800 homes on Wednesday, as a woman climbed a transformer and caused a disruption. The incident occurred near Gladiola Street and Decade Drive, with the woman hurling ‘abuses’ at police attempting to bring her down. Police described the event as a “mental health episode,” which was captured in a viral video.

The woman, dressed in a red skirt and black top, was seen standing on top of industrial equipment, gripping a tall cylindrical insulator and surrounded by high-voltage components. In a dangerous position, she hung horizontally, gripping the structure with one arm and her legs. Emergency responders stood nearby, possibly preparing to assist.

As authorities surrounded her with cherry pickers, she kicked at them and grabbed a wire, climbing it like a “vine.”

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A police officer warned the woman to get into the cherry picker, threatening to shoot her if she refused. She was hit with a less-lethal weapon. “She literally collapsed … from pain into the cherry picker, and they went down slowly,” said eyewitness Kent. “She seemed okay. She was verbal, and she was in pain, she was crying, and then [an] ambulance came, put her on a stretcher, and took her away.”

Kent also mentioned hearing the woman yelling that “the world no longer being safe for her or future children.” Kent expressed concern, saying, “We were kind of concerned for her. We’re waiting around, hoping that she’s safe and she’s okay, and she comes down.”