20.10.2026

Another Texas electrocution

A man died in Austin, Texas on the afternoon of Friday, October the 9th, after taking his platform too close to overhead power lines.

The incident occurred on a busy downtown construction site, where several boom lifts and telehandlers were working on an elevated residential site alongside a road.

According to the Austin Firefighters Association, two men were working from a JLG 860SJ boom lift and had moved the platform too close to some overhead lines.

Once the power was disconnected, they attempted to reach the men with a fire rescue platform, but it did not have the reach, and a larger truck mounted lift was called in. When the two were rescued, one was declared dead, while the other was apparently unhurt and refused treatment. Osha is investigating.

This is the second such incident in Texas this month. See Texas electrocution

The following news bulletin has further information