An alderman says two public works employees who were hospitalized after being electrocuted by a power line in Waukegan are both conscious and “doing well.”
The Waukegan Fire Department responded around 11:30 a.m. Thursday to the area of Pershing Road and Greenwood Avenue.
Waukegan Fire Marshal Todd Zupec said fire crews arrived to find two male workers with injuries from a power line.
The Waukegan Public Works employees were conducting tree-trimming operations with other public works members.
One of the trucks equipped with a crane boom made contact with a power line, Zupec said.
The power line energized the truck and electrocuted the two workers.
Zupec said fellow crew members called 911 and tended to the victims until emergency crews arrived to provide care.
Two medical helicopters were initially requested but one of them was cancelled.
Paramedics transported one of the injured workers to the Waukegan National Airport where a medical helicopter landed.
The helicopter then flew the victim to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Zupec said.
The second injured worker was transported by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
The conditions of both victims were not released. ComEd was called to the scene to ensure the power lines were safe.
Waukegan Sixth Ward Alderman Keith Turner said both workers are “doing well.” He said both are conscious and mobile.
Turner said he did not know Friday evening whether they were both still hospitalized.