14.06.2012

Crane electrocutes bystander

A crane touched an overhead power line in Newbury, New Hampshire, USA yesterday and caused the death of man working below.

The man, said to be in his mid-40s, was employed by Guillemette Tree Service of Andover and was part of a team working with the department of transportation on Route 103 to take down a number of large pine trees. He was working with a wood chipper when the crane touched a live overhead wire.

The electricity ran to earth and travelled the short distance across the grass to hit the man and the wood chipper. The emergency services were soon on the scene and managed to revive him, after finding that he was no longer breathing. However their efforts were in vain and he died on the way to hospital.

The crane operator and others working on the ground were unhurt. OSHA is investigating.