TYLER, Texas (AP) - Police say one electric worker has died and another was hurt after being shocked while repairing downed power lines after an East Texas traffic accident.
Tyler police say a vehicle hit a utility pole before dawn Friday. Police arrested the driver on a misdemeanor charge of striking a fixture.
Officer Don Martin says two contract workers for utility Oncor (ON’-kor) were dispatched to do repairs when both were accidentally shocked.
Martin says the victims were transported to a Tyler hospital, where one was declared dead and the other was treated for serious injuries.
Both men worked for Willbros (WIL’-brohs) T&D Services. Willbros spokesman Steve Breitigam (BRYT’-uh-gum) says the injured man was hospitalized Friday in stable condition with burns. The workers’ names weren’t immediately released.
Federal safety officials will help investigate the electrical accident.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.