GMP linemen injured in Middlebury pole accident

MIDDLEBURY | On July 22, at approximately 10:27 a.m., troopers from the Vermont State Police were dispatched to an accident in an area near the Middlebury River located southeast of 390 Blake Roy Rd. in Middlebury. Troopers found two Green Mountain Power linemen were injured when the utility pole that they were working on suddenly failed and broke. Preliminary investigation indicates that lineman Josh McLean and Jared Allen were removing three-phase lines from a utility pole and had begun to send equipment to the ground level when the pole suddenly broke at its base. The pole then fell striking a tracked vehicle and broke a second time. Allen landed on the ground adjacent to the pole while McLean landed on the ground with the pole partially on top of him. McLean and Allen were assisted immediately by other GMP workers, then by Middlebury Technical Rescue and volunteers from the Salisbury Fire Department. Middlebury Rescue personnel stabilized both men prior to transport. Middlebury Rescue and a Life-Flight helicopter provided transport to area hospitals. Both McLean and Allen were properly wearing approved safety equipment (harnesses) while they worked more than 50 feet above the ground when the incident occurred. At present time it is believed that internal damage to the wooden pole is a main contributing factor to this accident. This incident remains under investigation, according to a report by VSP Sgt. Stephen McNamara. An eyewitness told The Eagle that GMP workmen had been working on poles near the river. Extreme flooding in recent years has altered the course of the river with large piles of forest debris being deposited along the stream. Any utility poles near the stream's changing banks could be undermined over time.

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GMP linemen injured in Middlebury pole accident

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