An Illinois utility worker was electrocuted and killed during a work accident in Sterling. Officials say the worker was an employee at a telecommunications company who was electrocuted while working on a utility pole located at 23rd and Locust Street. Officials say another man was injured and in critical condition at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. Authorities have identified him as 23-year-old West Chicago man. The Deputy Fire Chief of Sterling said the workers were repairing a fiber-optic cable last week when the bucket on their truck came into contact with power lines. An employee of a local business called emergency help after a customer saw what happened. A witness said he thought the utility truck was going to blow up for the force of the voltage. The identity of the man killed has not been released. The men were employees of Zucru Communications, which is based in West Chicago.
According to a ComEd spokesperson, the accident caused a major power outage in the surrounding area and affected more than 814 customers at approximately 12:12 p.m., when authorities say the accident occurred. Authorities say they are investigating the accident.
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