Worker Dies After Bucket Truck Overturns
April 30, 2017 8:28 PM
WAYNE TOWNSHIP, PA (KDKA) — A man died after the bucket truck he was in overturned in Wayne Township early Sunday afternoon.
It happened just after noon in the 300-block of Dutch Ridge Road.
The victim has been identified as 54-year-old James D. George, of New Castle.
According to state police, George, a Penn Power (a FirstEnergy company) worker, was elevated inside the bucket of a bucket truck to work on a utility pole. The truck became unstable, moved backwards and overturned onto its side. George fell from the bucket onto the roadway. A witness was told that it was a 30-foot fall.
George was pronounced dead at the scene.
FirstEnergy released the following statement:
“The FirstEnergy family suffered a tragic loss today. A Penn Power lineman working in a bucket truck was killed when his truck overturned. The incident took place in Wayne Township in western Pennsylvania.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and co-workers.
Our investigation into this incident has begun, and we will cooperate fully with all public officials in their investigations, as well.”
State police continue to investigate.
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A bucket truck tipped over Sunday afternoon, claiming the life of a Penn Power worker.
Lineman James D. George, 54, of New Castle was working from the bucket of a utility truck at 327 Dutch Ridge Road in Wayne Township when the truck became unstable on the inclined roadway, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. The truck moved backward before tipping onto its side, causing George to fall and strike the road.
Two other crew members heard George yelling that the truck was moving, but were unable to do anything, according to Assistant Lawrence County Coroner R.J. Johnson, who pronounced George dead at the scene. He said the death appeared to be from blunt force trauma. An autopsy was being conducted Sunday evening.
The road remained closed at 4:30 p.m. Sunday and police said the incident remains under investigation.
The Penn Power crew had been working on a utility pole in the area Saturday night and returned Sunday, Johnson said. He said workers had shut down one lane of Dutch Ridge Road for the work. He did not know what type of problem they were working on.
The accident happened near Berean Presbyterian Church, where several members gathered in prayer for the victim.
The Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department and Medevac Ambulance were also at the scene.