Boom truck hits power lines in Flagler, electrocuting 2 workers

PALM COAST, Fla. – Two construction workers were electrocuted Monday in an industrial accident in Flagler County, sheriff's officials said.

The men died around 8:30 a.m. on Sebastian Court in Palm Coast.

According to Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, Nomad LLC, a subcontractor, was laying a concrete foundation for a new house when a boom truck struck a power line.

Both men were killed instantly from 13,000 volts of electricity, Staly said.

"(The victims) were on either side of the truck on the ground, one worker was controlling the boom with a tethered remote, the other worker was cleaning out the truck in the boom with water," Staly said. "(The electricity) went through the boom, through the truck, and because they were touching the truck, it went onto them."

They were identified Monday evening as Richard Hockaday, 37, and Gerald Anderson, 39.

A woman who called 911 said she was at a nearby bus stop with her children and saw the accident take place. She told the operator that she was a distance away from one of the men who was lying on the ground, but she said she could tell he was not moving.

"Yeah the (power) line is actually on him, so (the other construction workers) are not near him. It doesn't, it doesn't look very good," the woman said.

The woman said the line sparked when it went down, but didn't appear to be sparking while she was on the phone with 911. The other victim was behind the concrete truck, out of her view.

Three other nearby workers were not injured, officials said.

Staly called it a tragic accident, adding that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration would be contacted about it.

"It's one of those things in the construction industry, or any industry, you know, you can have accidents and, of course, no one is expecting this today," Staly said. "Our condolences go to the family and the loved ones and the workers that were here working with them. It's a tragic day that you hope never occurs on your construction site."

The incident also knocked out power to several homes in the area, officials said.