At least one injured after coming ‘into contact’ with power line in Allentown; outage affecting hundreds
A man is in critical condition Wednesday after being shocked by a power line while on a manlift in Center City Allentown. Hundreds were left without power in the area.
According to Allentown Fire Department public information Officer Jon Hammil, fire crews were dispatched just after 11 a.m. for a report of an unconscious man on a manlift near the area of 12th and Webster streets in Allentown. First responders found two men on the lift, both of them were conscious but one had sustained “pretty significant burns,” Hammil said.
First responders were unable to operate the lift controls, so firefighters used a rope system via an aerial device to pull the men off the lift. Both were transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. The man who was shocked is in critical condition, Hammil said.
A statement from PPL Electric Utilities communications director Dana Burns confirmed “that individuals, not affiliated with our company, came into contact with an electric line near 12th and Webster streets in Allentown” on Wednesday.
The power line has been deenergized and PPL Electric crews are assisting emergency responders, the statement said.
A post on the City of Allentown Facebook page also confirmed that police and fire crews are responding to an “electrocution incident” in that area which has caused a power outage affecting traffic signals. The city is asking people to avoid the area.
According to the PPL Outage map, the outage was caused by a “tripped breaker or blown fuse” and is affecting several city blocks between West Gordon and Linden streets near the Union and West End Cemetery. Around 733 customers are affected by the outage, and PPL estimates power will be restored by 7:30 p.m.
Burns said that power will be restored “once first responders confirm it is safe.”
“Our thoughts are with the individuals involved,” Burns said in the written statement.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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