LEHI — A man was severely burned Saturday after he was shocked by a power line while hanging a banner near a home development site in Lehi.
The man, who police said in his late 20s, was trying to secure a metal pole in the ground near 1100 West and 700 South about 3 p.m. to hang a banner advertising a development company, Richmond American Homes.
Lehi Police Sgt. Chris Hadlock said a motorist was passing by when he noticed the man was about to touch the pole to an overhead, high-voltage powerline.
"He saw what was about to happen and started honking his horn to try and alert this gentleman to avoid it," Hadlock said.
But the pole touched the power line and shocked the man, severely burning him on his hands and one of his feet. When he fell to the ground, he hit his head on a curb and started bleeding, the sergeant said.
The motorist pulled over and, with the help of four other passersby, started holding towels to his head to stem the bleeding. One of the bystanders called 911.
The man, whose name was not released, was conscious and breathing when first responders arrived, but he was flown to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
"It was definitely lucky for him to be able to have help that quick," the sergeant said. "He was complaining about a fair amount of pain, so I'm sure he was scared. But he had people there calming him and talking to him and just being good neighbors, letting him know it was going to be OK."
The man was working as a subcontractor for the development company, Hadlock said. Police were attempting to contact the company Saturday afternoon regarding the incident and about a possible occupational safety investigation.
It's the second shock incident in two days along the Wasatch Front. Friday, one man was killed and two others were critically injured after being shocked by a power line while working on the roof of a gymnastics center in Draper.
Email: kmckellar@deseretnews.com