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October 2, 2007

Providence man critical with electrical burns

PROVIDENCE -- A Providence man is in critical condition this afternoon after sustaining burns to his body after coming into contact with an electrical transmission tower yesterday.

Kenneth Soltys, 36, of 36 Manhattan St., was taken to Rhode Island Hospital after personnel responded to Stanhope Street at 11:48 a.m. for a report of an explosion with a man injured, according to the police incident report, which identifies Soltys.

Early indications suggested the injured man may have been trying to cut through two heavy-gauge guy wires that support a transmission tower off Stanhope Street.

A witness told the police that he heard a loud explosion and then saw a large ball of flames coming from electrical wires on Stanhope Street, the report says. The witness said he walked in the direction of the wires and saw a man on the ground, apparently burned. The witness called for help and was met by fire and rescue responders.

The police report said officers saw a wire dangling from the utility pole and two sections of wire, "rolled up and held together by electrical tape at the entrance to the field." Detectives at the scene seized burned clothing and a cell phone.

National Grid is conducting its own investigation, David Graves, a National Grid spokesman, said today.

One wire apparently broke free, shot upward and came into contact with the transmission line above. That connection sent 115,000 volts down the second guide wire, burning the man.

Standard voltage in a U.S. household socket is 120 volts.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 4:32 PM | Permalink

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