A Louisiana utility worker was struck by an 18-wheeler and left dangling over the road as he was repairing a stoplight over a busy intersection while his coworker rushed to save him from a serious injury.
Frightening footage filmed by a driver waiting at a red light captured the chaotic incident play out in front of shocked motorists Wednesday afternoon in the city of Denham Springs, LA., 18 miles east of Baton Rouge.
Vehicles began turning off the I-12 exit ramp and onto Range Avenue, where the utility crew was conducting maintenance work on the traffic lights above the right lane.
The large tractor-trailer appeared in frame as it turned into the outside lane and smashed into the occupied bucket truck arm, according to footage shared online by Bill Atkinson.
The intense impact jostled the unidentified worker around the basket, which partially broke off the arm, sending the worker flying upside down.
The worker was fortunately tethered to the bucket, but was left dangling over the roadway as several of his coworkers rushed to save him.
Debris and tools were scattered around the awaiting road below.
“That is a mandate we have when you’re in that bucket truck you’ll have that harness on,” East Baton Rouge Parish Director of Transportation Fred Raiford said, according to WBRZ.
Raiford said he didn’t know how the big rig would’ve made that turn, either hitting the bucket truck or a pole on the other side of the road.
The worker suffered minor injuries but wasn’t taken to a hospital, Denham Police told the outlet.
The semi-truck driver pulled over after the crash, telling officials he wasn’t aware how low the bucket was over the street.
The front of the trailer crashed into the bottom of the basket the unidentified worker was in, causing it to smash into the bucket of the utility vehicle.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development took over the investigation because the traffic light is operated by the state.
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