Police say an 18-year-old man suffered serious burns while spray painting graffiti inside an electrical substation in northwest Santa Fe. The Associated Press reports that the man has been identified as 18-year-old Aaron Vigil and that he is in critical condition at a Phoenix burn center. The man called 911 from his cell phone after 50 to 70 percent of his body was burned.Assistant Fire Chief Ted Bolleter says he was burned both from the electrical shock and from his clothes catching fire. “We clearly mark it [the substation] as a dangerous, high-voltage environment and we urge people, especially children, to stay away from these facilities,” said Jeff Buell of Public Service Company of New Mexico. The substation supplies electricity to 5,800 houses in the area.
About 115,000 volts of electricity flow into the substation through high-voltage wires. Inside, the current is redistributed and sent out to customers through underground wires.
Police say the man apparently jumped a 15-foot wall topped with razor wire to get inside. Police say the 18-year-old may not have been the only person at the scene. Emergency crews say they saw two people leaving the substation as they pulled up.
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