What to Know
- Two utility workers in Orange County were electrocuted by wires that weren't supposed to have any current running through them
- They were out in a remote area in Warwick, inspecting the long braided-metal support line which helps hold up tall power poles
- Both the utilities company and the state's Public Service Commission say they are working to figure out what led to the deadly incident
A routine inspection of power poles in Orange County turned into a fatal tragedy Monday after two utility workers were electrocuted by wires that weren't supposed to have any current running through them.
The two men from EJ Electric were contracted by Orange and Rockland Utilities and they were out in a remote area on Continental Road in Warwick, inspecting the long braided-metal support line which helps hold up tall power poles, according to the utilities company.
It was a "non-electrical maintance" work for the area of Mount Peter but somehow, the guy wire they were inspecting was energized and the two workers, who have no been identified, were electrocuted.
"There’s typically never any problem with guy wires. There was work being done on this – and the work, in some way, touched off the electrification," Mike Donavan with Orange and Rockland Utilties said.
The electrocution sparked a small brush fire and it destroyed the ATVs that the men used to get to the area.
A residence nearby saw the crew heading out in the morning and he knew immediately when something went wrong.
Local
"The lights started flickering started flickering out – and then, boom! Everything went down. And I’m like, that’s really weird!," said Robert Pleyer.
Both the utilities company and the state's Public Service Commission say they are working to figure out what led to the deadly incident. Officials are expected to be at the scene Tuesday to inspect the wire.
