A 29-year-old man was electrocuted at a construction site near
Dinosaur Point on Monday when he touched an inactive power
line.
The name of the former North Dakota resident, was not released
by the Merced County Coroner’s Office pending notification of the
victim’s family.
A 29-year-old man was electrocuted at a construction site near Dinosaur Point on Monday when he touched an inactive power line.
The name of the former North Dakota resident, was not released by the Merced County Coroner’s Office pending notification of the victim’s family.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene along the Santa Clara and Merced County lines, said deputies from both counties, who are still trying to piece together the chain of events that led up to the bizarre electrocution.
“At this point, it is being investigated by PG&E, the contract company that hired him and our office,” Merced County Deputy Dave Verderber said.
Although details on the incident are still sketchy, deputies said the incident appears to be accidental.
“There does not appear to have been any foul play involved,” Santa Clara County Deputy Terrance Helm said.
Investigators said the deadly 3:40 p.m. accident appears to have happened when the man, who was part of a construction crew contracted by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, went to install a series of poles and high power lines.
While the victim was holding a grounded pole, “he reportedly came in contact with a power line that had been de-energized,” Verderber said.
“The line, however, released a large surge of static electricity and electrocuted him,” Verderber said.
Investigators said the power line was so thick and had so much power passing through it initially, that it could have easily stored up enough “inductive electricity” to make it very dangerous.
“Even if the switch is shut off, it can produce a large amount of static electricity,” Verderber said.
An autopsy is expected to be conducted by Wednesday to determine the exact cause of death, investigators said.
More details on the fatality are expected to be released later today.
