Friend of 3 Duke Energy contractors 'heartbroken' after deadly electrical incident in Pinellas Co.
Share and Follow


SEMINOLE, Fla. (WFLA) — On Tuesday, two men were severely injured and one was killed during an electrical incident at a power facility in Pinellas County.

“It’s hard… when people you love… you spent so much time with… go through that. It was pretty gut-wrenching,” said Jesse Getford, who worked with the three men previously in Clearwater and is organizing fundraising campaigns for the families.

Three linemen, who were contractors with Duke Energy, were assisting in placing a new power pole in the ground, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Around 1:30 p.m., a “boom operator” working on the site hit a pole and power line, causing an explosion.

Matt Waldrop, of North Florida, and Jeff Busch, of Polk County, were sent to the hospital with life-threatening electrical burns. Justin Bryan, of Hernando County, was killed.

“I’m just heartbroken,” Getford said.

The sheriff’s office spent the majority of the day and evening Tuesday conducting a death investigation. Duke Energy told 8 On Your Side that approximately 14,000 people lost power, but the power was restored by Tuesday evening.

“They were all fathers. All of them are sole providers for their families,” Getford said.

Both Waldrop and Busch are stable, according to Getford. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at this time believes the electric shock incident to be an accident. OSHA is also investigating.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Volusia Sheriff Blasts Judge’s Decision After Deputy Attacked at Local School

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Sheriff Mike Chitwood of Volusia County expressed his…

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Expresses Concern Over Potential Trump Tactics Amid Epstein File Revelations

WASHINGTON – Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois has expressed concern about President…

Bill Murray, Elle Fanning, and Elvis Costello Honor Sofia Coppola at MoMA Benefit Event

NEW YORK – At the age of 20, Sofia Coppola was still…

Court Set to Review Legal Challenge on Prosecutor’s Appointment in Cases Against James Comey and Letitia James

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – In a courtroom drama set to unfold this Thursday,…

Asian Markets Show Varied Performance Amidst Wall Street’s Record Fluctuations

In the bustling financial world of Manila, Asian markets displayed varied performances…

Cash App’s MoneyBot Analyzes Spending Habits with Unprecedented Precision

NEW YORK – Envision a world where your bank can seamlessly transfer…

HBO’s ‘Seduction’ Offers a Bold, Female-Centric Take on ‘Dangerous Liaisons

“Welcome to the tantalizing chaos of high society,” invites the trailer for…

Starbucks Workers Stage Major 65-Store Strike on Red Cup Day: What It Means for Customers and the Company

Over a thousand unionized Starbucks employees are set to strike at 65…