Accident injures worker, knocks out power in Hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH -- HILLSBOROUGH -- Three construction workers were injured around noon today when a construction crane arced with a power line at the site of an office building being built beside the new parking deck behind the Gateway Center.

The accident disrupted power for about 100 customers in downtown Hillsborough, including part of the Orange County Courthouse. Power had been restored by late this afternoon, county officials said.

One of the workers suffered a serious electrical shock. He was handling a large metal hook at the end of a cable that was hanging from a crane. Co-workers said an electrical arc jumped from the nearby power line, hit the crane and traveled down the cable to the worker.

The crane was located next to power lines running along the south side of West Margaret lane near Churton Street in downtown Hillsborough.

The injured workers were taken by ambulance to the hospital. Two were released a short time later.

The accident also knocked out traffic lights at the intersection of South Churton Street and Margaret Lane. Telesis Construction Management, the Construction Manager At Risk for the new Orange County facility and Resolute Building Co., the general contractor, are currently investigating the accident.