Worker Freed Safely After Construction Equipment Hits Power Line

SAN LEANDRO, CA —The Alameda County Fire Department, San Leandro Police Department officers and a PG&E crew worked together Thursday morning to rescue a worker who was trapped inside a construction vehicle that had struck and downed a power line, fire officials said.

At about 10:20 a.m. in the 700 block of Fargo Avenue, a piece of the vehicle's asphalt removal equipment struck a secondary power line, causing it to fall on the equipment. The power line - which carries up to 240 volts - was potentially energized, which prevented the driver from exiting the vehicle, authorities said.

According to the East Bay Times, a portion of the power line automatically de-energized once it fell. But as a precaution, PG&E workers cut power to the entire line as fire crews helped to free the worker from the vehicle.

The electric company said a total of 1,233 customers lost power for about 20 minutes, the East Bay Times reported.

San Leandro police issued a brief shelter-in-place advisory during the incident, according to the East Bay Times, and Fargo Avenue from Washington Avenue to Swenson Street was shut down until the de-energization was completed.

The Alameda County Fire Department said there were no injuries during the incident.