LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- A worker has been rushed to the hospital after being shocked by a power line. It happened about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Burnett and Brook Streets in Old Louisville.
The fire department says a man working on remodeling a nearby house accidentally raised himself into power lines on a scissors lift.
"It appears that he miscalculated the height and the equipment that he was operating into the power lines," said Capt. Sal Melendez of Louisville Fire and Rescue. "The individual was still in contact with the power line when we arrived."
He was taken to University Hospital in serious condition, with burns to his shoulder and abdominal area.
The worker was part of a private remodeling crew on a nearby house.
His lift came in contact with power lines that run parallel to the sidewalk.
A next door neighbor first heard -- then saw -- it happen.
"I heard a spark, and I was talking to the guys earlier. When I looked over there, he was in flames and his whole back side was turning black. I immediately called 911. Next thing I know, the fire department showed up, and the police started blocking everything off," said Kelley Bordeau.
"It was pretty scary seeing someone being shocked like that," Bordeau said.
Authorities have not released the worker's name. He is in his 40s, Melendez said.
The incident initially knocked out power to about 3,000 people in the area. LG&E crews had to shut off power before rescuers could lower the bucket lift and tend to the man, Melendez said.
The construction crew had been working at the house about three weeks, Bordeau said.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
