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News
Release
07/09/08
Captain Wayne M. Miller
Public Information Officer
(386) 506-5810
Case # 2008-006624
UTILITY WORKER ELECTROCUTED WHILE WORKING IN PORT ORANGE
On
this date at approximately 1636 hours, Port Orange Police and
Fire/Rescue units responded to the 1300 block of Dunlawton
Avenue regarding a possible electrocution. Once on scene the
investigation revealed that a worker for East Coast Utilities
was working from a bucket truck and was transferring power
lines to upgraded concrete power poles. The worker was
rendered unconscious when he came into contact with live power
equipment at the top of the poles. This action caused
the power to go out in the area.
Other
East Coast Utility employees working in the immediate area
lowered the bucket boom and began to render aid to the injured
worker while police and rescue units arrived on scene. The
victim was immediately transported to Halifax Hospital via
EVAC ambulance where he was pronounced deceased at 1711 hours.
The victim has been identified as Robert Dennis Letlow, 49
years old, who resided in Mims, Florida. OSHA was contacted as
part of protocol and was advised of the above incident.
Additional
information:
East
Coast Utilities, based out of Melbourne, Florida, is
contracted to complete improvements on the electrical system
in the above area as part of the Florida Power and Light storm
secure plan (Storm secure is FPL’s comprehensive plan aimed
at strengthening the electric system against hurricane
damage). This project involves replacing the wooden power
poles with larger concrete power poles and transferring the
power equipment to the upgraded poles. This upgrade is being
conducted along Dunlawton Avenue from I-95 to Spruce Creek
Road. This work began on Monday July 7, 2008 and is expected
to be completed by the end of September 2008.
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