PITTSBURGH — A window washer was electrocuted Tuesday morning when a lift truck came in contact with power lines in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.
Channel 11 has learned the victim is Matthew Blackburn, 46, of Jefferson Hills.
Channel 11's Courtney Brennan reported transformers were visibly charred.
“It was a huge, like, cloud of flames,” Lauren O’Brien, a witness, said. “It felt like a whole minute, but it was probably like 10 seconds, of just, like, engulfed in flames. It felt like I was watching a movie."
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O'Brien was walking down North Neville Street when a window washer working in the bucket of a lift truck hit a 23,000 volt power line.
O'Brien and the pastor of a nearby church called 911.
Authorities said Blackburn was instantly killed.
His son was on the job with him, and Channel 11 saw devastated family members arrive at the scene very quickly.
They were inconsolable as rescue crews waited nearly two hours to bring the man's body down.
"It's frustrating that all the paramedic rescue, the firefighters and police are here wanting to save this man, to go up there and do that, but scene safety is paramount," said Zone 4 Cmdr. Dan Herrmann.
Crews had to wait to ensure the lines were no longer live.
Witnesses said the man was part of a crew that was washing windows at an apartment building.
Duquesne Light came in and cut the power so that rescuers could safely recover the body.
OSHA is now investigating if the lift malfunctioned or the operator accidentally hit the power line.
"It's hands down the worst thing I've seen in my whole life," O'Brien said.
Police said their investigation is ongoing as well.