A staging area was set up on County Road 703. / W.C. Mann
Updated 8-22-17 9:26 p.m.
Official statement from the Cullman Electric Cooperative:
"A lineman working for an independent contractor under contract with Cullman Electric Cooperative was involved in an electrical accident Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 22, 2017, near the Walter community in southeast Cullman County. The lineman was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Birmingham. The lineman was an employee of APL Power Services based in Chattanooga, TN. No additional information on the incident or the status of the injured lineman is available at this time. The thoughts and prayers of all Cullman Electric Cooperative employees go out to the lineman and his family."
Updated 8-22-17 at 8:06 p.m.
Cullman Electric Cooperative has identified the company the lineman works for as Advanced Power & Lighting (APL Power Services) out of Hixson, Tennessee (Close to Chattanooga).
The lineman's name and condition have not been released at this time, although Lacy stated that the lineman was involved in "a contact incident, meaning he made direct contact with a power line."
More information will be released as it becomes available. A briefing is scheduled for Wednesday morning at the Co-op.
Updated 8-22-17 at 5:31 p.m.
Brian Lacy, communication manager for the Cullman Electric Cooperative, has confirmed that the victim was not a Co-op employee, but was working for a company contracted by the Co-op. "We work with contract crews on a regular basis for a variety of services," he said. He could not identify the company for which the victim works, saying that he would have to find out.
When asked how dangerous the victim's situation is, Lacy said, "The voltage levels in a power line have enough electricity running through them that any kind of contact that a lineman makes can be potentially lethal. I'm sure they're taking every medical precaution at this point in time as they treat the injuries."
Lacy said he has not been given specifics of the incident yet, so he could not say exactly what happened.
Updated 8-22-17 5:18 p.m.
The victim, who has not been identified, has been airlifted to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Holly Pond Volunteer Fire Department, Hanceville Fire Rescue and the Cullman County Sheriff's Office joined the scene before the victim was airlifted.
CULLMAN COUNTY – Authorities are on the scene of a reported electrocution of a lineman in the 800 block of County Road 768 in the Walter area. Responders from the Walter Volunteer Fire Department, Cullman EMS and Air Evac Lifeteam are all on the scene.
A staging area has been set up on County Road 703. The incident occurred at approximately 4:22 p.m.
Calls to the Cullman Electric Cooperative have not been returned.
This is a developing story.
Copyright 2017 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
