November 24, 2015 – “PowerStream and its employees are deeply saddened by this loss of life; our thoughts and prayers are with his family, co-workers and friends at this most difficult time,” said Maurizio Bevilacqua and Brian Bentz, board chair and president/CEO, respectively, of PowerStream—an electric utility jointly owned by the Ontario cities of Barrie, Markham and Vaughan.

Bevilacqua and Bentz were referring to an electrical contact incident today on Hwy 7, just east of Dufferin Street in Vaughan, involving a 25-year-old employee of PGC Services.

About 10 hours ago, York Regional Police tweeted:

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT UPDATE – The worker electrocuted in the accident on Hwy 7 has sadly succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

According to PowerStream, the incident involved unintentional contact with overhead high-voltage electrical distribution lines by hydrovac excavation equipment being used by PGC Services to dig holes for new electrical poles.

In conversation with the CBC, Const. Andy Pattenden mentioned that “… a portion of the truck actually did catch on fire”.

PowerStream adds the Ministry of Labour has been advised and is investigating the incident, and that its own health & safety department opened an internal investigation.