Tractor Trailer Takes Out Bucket Truck, Leaves Utility Worker Dangling [WATCH]

A utility worker performing maintenance on a traffic light in Denham Springs, Louisiana, was left suspended over a roadway after being struck by an 18-wheeler on Wednesday afternoon.

The incident occurred at a busy intersection near Range Avenue and the I-12 exit ramp, approximately 18 miles east of Baton Rouge.

According to video footage taken by a motorist waiting at a red light, traffic had begun to flow off the I-12 ramp as the utility crew was positioned in the right lane conducting routine maintenance.

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The large tractor-trailer entered the intersection, making a right turn into the outer lane and collided with the extended arm of a bucket truck where a worker was stationed in the raised basket.

The footage, shared online by Bill Atkinson, shows the impact of forcefully striking the arm of the bucket truck, partially detaching the basket, and violently tossing the worker upside down.

Despite the severity of the collision, the worker was tethered to the basket with a harness, which prevented him from falling completely and left him suspended over the road.

Debris and tools could be seen scattered across the intersection in the aftermath of the crash.

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The worker’s co-worker, who was on the ground, quickly rushed to assist him.

Fred Raiford, Director of Transportation for East Baton Rouge Parish, told WBRZ that harness use is a mandatory safety protocol for utility crews.

“That is a mandate we have: When you’re in that bucket truck, you’ll have that harness on,” Raiford said.

Raiford also expressed concern about the truck’s maneuverability in the area, stating he was unsure how the vehicle could have made the turn without colliding with either the bucket truck or a nearby pole.

The size and position of the utility truck may have limited the available clearance for larger vehicles attempting the turn.

Local authorities confirmed that the utility worker sustained only minor injuries and was not transported to a hospital.

Denham Springs Police said the driver of the semi-truck pulled over and cooperated with the investigation, telling officers he had not realized how low the raised bucket was hanging over the street at the time of the collision.

The front end of the trailer reportedly struck the bottom of the basket, causing it to crash into the bucket attached to the utility vehicle.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has taken over the investigation, as the traffic light involved in the incident falls under state jurisdiction.

Officials have not yet released the identity of the utility worker or the truck driver involved.

No charges have been announced as of Friday, and the status of any disciplinary or procedural reviews has not been disclosed.

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