1 worker hurt after utility pole falls onto bucket truck

PITTSBURGH — One person was injured after a pole fell onto a bucket truck in Bloomfield Tuesday afternoon

It happened at Liberty Avenue and South Mathilda Street around 4:30 p.m.

According to a tweet from Allegheny County, another pole further down the street is tilted as well.

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The man had “very minor” injuries to his rib cage, according to Pittsburgh public safety. The company he works for, J.W. Didado, said he has a few broken ribs and was able to walk himself to West Penn Hospital -- where he was treated and later released.

The pole snapped while the man was working on it, when it fell on the bucket truck that also collapsed. He was protected by his harness, public safety said, which prevented his injuries from being much more serious.

A coworker in a second bucket truck was able to respond and rescue him.

J.W. Didado officials said the company is based out of Akron, Ohio and were subcontracted by Duquesne Light to do work along South Mathilda Street.

West Liberty Avenue and Mathilda Street are both still closed while crews investigated and replace the poles that came down.

Below is the full statement issued by Duquesne Light:

“At approximately 4:25 this afternoon, a Duquesne Light (DLC) contractor with JW Didado working to repair an overhead cable in Bloomfield, was injured when a pole fell and hit the contractor’s truck while he was conducting the repair. He was taken to West Penn Hospital to be evaluated. DLC is working with the contractor and local authorities to investigate the cause of the incident. DLC crews had to cut off power to 3 apartment buildings there as part of the restoration efforts, which will go into the evening.”

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