Man badly hurt after contacting power lines has died

WOONSOCKET — A 65-year-old Pawtucket man, reported to have been critically hurt when he contacted power lines at a home he was working on at 338 Park Place Friday afternoon, has succumbed to those injuries.

According to Woonsocket Detective Captain Michael Lemoine, the man died after being transported to Rhode Island Hospital. The name of the victim will not be released until Monday, per pending notification of family members, Lemoine said. Police are still investigating the incident

The man had been using a power lift set up near some overhead power lines in front of the dwelling, when he apparently made contact with the lines above.

Neighbors reported seeing the man slumped over from the electrical contact and also appearing to be severely burned on his upper shoulder.

He was initially transported by rescue to Landmark Medical Center, and later Friday he was moved to Rhode Island Hospital.

Representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Grid also responded to the scene of the accident.

National Grid, as a public safety measure, deployed crews to the scene to shut off power in the area, allowing first responders to do their work.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The headline for a related story in Saturday’s Woonsocket Call erroneously implied that the man had been working on the power lines themselves. This was not the case, as he was working on the Park Place home when the accident occurred. The Call regrets this error.