Close Call for Construction Worker at Old Bradlees Shopping Center

A construction worker operating an excavator as part of the ongoing reconstruction of the old Bradlees shopping center in New City knocked down a utility pole while tearing down a wall Monday, with live power transformers and wires coming down on the excavator.

Although the worker was trapped in the excavator until power could be turned off, the worker was not injured and eventually was able to make it out of the vehicle on his own, according to New City Deputy Fire Chief Kenneth Flynn.

The pole came down about 11:45 a.m. when the excavator operator and a crew of about four other workers were tearing down a wall at the rear of the old shopping center building. The shopping center at Main Street and Cavalry Drive is being rebuilt with a new Stop & Shop Supermarket and fuel station as its centerpiece.

Flynn said the excavator operator stopped the vehicle and remained inside the cab when the pole and wire fell. When he got out, the operator was skaken but not injured.

"These guys are trained not to get out when something like this happened," said Flynn, noting that the training probably saved the operator's life.

About 16 New City volunteer firefighters went to the scene of the accident, where there was a small spill of chemicals from the transformer. Flynn said there was no fire and firefighters were on standby in case fire broke out.

Flynn said firefighters were at the construction site for about an hour as Orange and Rockland Utilities officials inspected the damage and determined how to cut power to the downed transformer and lines.

ExcavWires.41.jpg....Operator is still inside rig after transformers and wires fell on the machine.

ExcavWires.42.jpg....Closer view of same.

ExcavWires.48.jpg...Excavator operator (in white shirt), leaves rig on his own, after being advised by O&R Supervisor Zoda (Safety Vest) that the power was shut down.

ExcavWires.44.jpg. Closer view of pole after power has been shut off and excavator operator has left the cab.

ExcavWires.46.jpg... O&R Supervisor Tom Zoda and another unidentified O&R worker survey the damge after power has been shut down.