TECO employee dies after line shock
TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA - The Tampa Electric Co. lineman who was shocked June 7 has died.
John Hudson, 39, worked 19 years for Tampa Electric. He died the following night at Tampa General Hospital, a spokesman said.
"He was working hard to service our customers," said Rick Morera, a Tampa Electric spokesman. "It was just a terrible tragedy and terrible loss."
Police and firefighters responded to Dona Michelle Drive and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard about 10:20 a.m. and found Hudson lying on the ground.
Hudson had been working on an electrical line from an insulated bucket truck when his body came in contact with the 7,620-volt power line, police said then. The shock caused severe burns.
Co-workers lowered him to the ground and began CPR until Fire Rescue workers arrived and took him to the hospital.
Morera said the last time a Tampa Electric employee was killed while on duty was in 2004, when a tree limb struck an employee making repairs after Hurricane Frances.
In 2008, 35 people were killed across the country while installing and repairing electrical power lines, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"It's an unforgiving environment that they work in," Morera said. "We're doing a complete review and analysis of what happened."
Related News
Clean-energy generation powers economy, environment
VANCOUVER - A First Nation-led clean-power generation project for British Columbia’s Northwest will provide a significant economic boost and good jobs for people in the area, as well as ongoing revenue from clean energy sold to the Yukon.
“This clean-energy project has the potential to be a win-win: creating opportunities for people, revenue for the community and cleaner air for everyone across the Northwest,” said Premier John Horgan. “That’s why our government is proud to be working in partnership with the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and other levels of government to make this promising project a reality. Together, we can…
