A copper thief received the charge of his life while he was breaking the law. His partner in crime ran off, leaving him behind.
Authorities in Atascosa County say the incident caused a fire and an explosion.
A witness reported seeing a vehicle leave a power station near Hwy. 97 and Hwy. 37 around 12:30 a.m. Friday morning.
Firefighters found the body of a man lying several feet away from the transmitter. They say it looks as though he was electrocuted while trying to steal copper.
Deputy Chief David Soward said the thief received a jolt of 69,000 volts of electricity, which killed him instantly.
Authorities have identified the deceased as 44-year-old Guy Harlan.
Harlan has a lengthy criminal history, and was last arrested on May 26.
Authorities say the surviving suspect left the scene of the mishap, and may have some illegally-obtained copper in his vehicle. He faces a number of charges, including felony theft.
Authorities in Atascosa County are investigating the incident, which caused about $20,000 in damages.
