Radnor Township, PA
A PECO worker was electrocuted to death early Wednesday while dealing with a power outage in Radnor Township, officials stated.
“We can confirm an employee fatality occurred,” Ben Armstrong, a Peco spokesman, said.
The incident occurred on the 700 block of Berwood Road in the township’s Bryn Mawr section in the early morning hours and involved a first-class line mechanic who had worked for the utility for 31 years, officials said.
The worker, who was in a bucket trying to isolate the affected power line, was found unresponsive about 5:20 a.m. by police who were patrolling in the area. Fire, ambulance, and Peco crews responded within 15 minutes and were able to lower the bucket to get to the lineman, said Lt. Andy Block of Radnor Police.
“The worker came in contact with the power line,” said Block. “It appears to be a tragic accident.”
Block said a downed tree in the area was the likely cause of the outage that affected about three blocks in the area.
The cause is still under investigation by local authorities and the state Public Utility Commission, Armstrong said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family,” said Armstrong, adding Peco representatives were with the worker’s family.
The man worked out of a suburban location and PECO is working closely to provide his colleagues with information and any support they need, Armstrong said.
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RADNOR, PA – A PECO worker died after he was electrocuted Wednesday morning in Radnor Township, according to Radnor Police and PECO officials.
The 62-year-old worker was found after a power outage was reported in the Boxwood Road and Berwood Lane area in the Rosemont section of Radnor just after 5 a.m., police said.
When police arrived, an officer located a PECO bucket truck on scene and stopped to talk with the worker.
Police said when the officer yelled up to the truck's elevated bucket with no response, he shined his flashlight and saw a worker with his hands on the wire.
EMS and PECO crews responded and got the bucket and the deceased worker down, police said.
PECO officials said the incident is under investigation and that PECO is working with local authorities and industry regulators as the investigation progresses.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family," a PECO spokesman said.
Police said the worker's name is not being released as next of kin has yet to be notified.