Electrocuted power line worker identified

[CPOPE]

Electrocuted power line worker identified
updated August 13, 2013 at 11 p.m.
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news...7089/?business
The identity of the 24-year-old electrician who was electrocuted Monday was released Tuesday.

Jeffrey Wilder II, of Clearlake, Calif., was pronounced dead at DeTar Hospital Navarro after coming into contact with live, high-voltage wires in the 5490 block of Farm-to-Market Road 237.

Wilder was employed by Techline of Dallas and was doing contract work replacing power lines for Victoria Electric Cooperative, said Sgt. Travis Gundelach with the Victoria County Sheriff's Office.

Brittany Marsh, communications specialist for Victoria Electric Cooperative, said she did not know whether the power came back on in the area where the man was working.

A resident in the area, Elena Alvarado, said the power came on in her house for a brief moment, and then she heard the man screaming.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the death.

updated August 13, 2013 at 8:38 a.m.

A 24-year-old California man died Monday after he was electrocuted in the 5490 block of Farm-to-Market Road 237.

The man's name has not been released, pending notification of family, said Sgt. Travis Gundelach with the Victoria County Sheriff's Office.


The man was a contract employee working for Victoria Electric Cooperative. He was replacing power lines when he came into contact with live, high-voltage wires, Gundelach said.

Elena Alvarado, who lives in the area, was taking a nap when the men came out to work on the lines. She said they had turned the power off in the area to replace the pole.

"I don't know what happened. I don't know. The power turned on for just a brief second. ... It flickered on and off, and that is when I heard him screaming," Alvarado said.

The man was treated at the scene by coworkers shortly before noon until the Victoria Fire Department could arrive.

Alvarado said the man appeared to be unconscious when workers managed to get the bucket he was working from back down. She said the tragedy was overwhelming.

"I've gone to school to be a (certified nurse's aide), and I have been trained on what to do in case of an emergency. I know how to do CPR, but when everything was happening, it was so scary, and I didn't know what to do. The only thing I could do was call 911," she said.

The man was transported to DeTar Hospital Navarro, where he later died. He was pronounced dead at 12:51 p.m.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the death.

Representatives from Victoria Electric Cooperative were not reached for comment Monday.

[Rob]

Sorry to hear this... RIP

[Pootnaigle]

Sadful thang

[Roofus]

Very unfortunate. I didn't know him well, but my sisters and a couple friends did. Good man amd a hard worker. RIP.