A 25-year-old construction worker was electrocuted Wednesday at 12:41 p.m. when he was hit by 7,200 volts from a power line at Stohlman Oldsmobile, 200 S. Pickett St., according Jane Malik, Public Information Officer, Alexandria Fire Department.
"When paramedics arrived from Station 208 they found the man unconscious. As he was being moved to the Medivac landing zone at Cameron Station he went into cardiac arrest," Malik explained.
"He was transported to Washington Hospital Center in Northeast Washington via Medstar helicopter. He died at the hospital Wednesday afternoon," Malik said. His name and address have not been released pending notification of relatives.
The victim was in a hoist-bucket mounted on a truck doing repairs to a sign at the automobile agency, according to Malik.
Acting Battalion Chief Mike Brown said, "I believe the line arced when the bucket came between it and the sign being worked on. I don't think they actually touched the line.
"There were two men in the bucket at the time and the other one had a cell phone. I think he is probably the one who called 911."
Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] officials have been notified, Malik verified. Alexandria Fire Department responded with both a Medic Unit and Engine.