A Duke Energy line worker died late Wednesday afternoon near Harland Street and Wandering Creek Drive in northwest Charlotte, a spokesman for the energy company said.
>> A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for the worker’s family. Click here to donate.
The North Carolina Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health said it is investigating the assembly line worker’s death.
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“My heart is with his family”
Neighbors said they heard sirens and then the power was cut off. They said they looked outside and expected to see Duke Energy workers there.
“I opened my blinds and saw… I’m sorry… I saw the Lord’s death lying right outside my window,” said Anita Bolin, a neighbor.
Duke Energy workers and Charlotte-Mecklenburg City Police officers were at the residential construction site, which was cordoned off with caution tape.
“About seven to eight Duke Energy trucks, about 10 police officers, a forensics team or whoever is examining the body, I estimate,” Bolin said.
Bolin said her heart breaks for everyone who knew the lineman.
“He was just doing his job,” Bolin said. “He was just working. And I can’t imagine it. My condolences go out to his family.”
Neighbor Latanyia Ledbetter said she couldn’t believe it.
“I don’t think they should build the house. That’s the only thing I believe, because it’s too much,” she said.
This is the second time in the last 12 months that she has seen first responders on the property. In September 2023, a woman was hospitalized with burns after her car exploded and flames spread to her home.
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“When you see something like that right in front of your eyes, when something like that takes a life, then something is going on,” Ledbetter said.
Duke Energy said the company is currently conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said officers were on scene to assist MEDIC and that the incident did not constitute a criminal offense.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and colleagues of our teammate,” Duke Energy said in a statement. “We are currently investigating the incident to learn more and are asking the family for privacy at this time.”
Duke Energy did not provide details about how the worker died.
Lineworker community offers support
The lineworker community is coming together to support the deceased worker’s family. A GoFundMe campaign started by the wife of another lineworker has already raised thousands of dollars in 24 hours.
According to GoFundMe, Zach Jones was a Marine veteran and was planning to get married. He and his fiancée were building a house when he died on Wednesday.
The money collected will benefit her.
Channel 9’s Hannah Goetz spoke with the founder of the LineLife Foundation, an organization that provides disaster support and resources to families affected by power lines.
“We have an accident every four days on average and we lose a mechanic every two weeks – in the USA alone. The numbers are frightening,” said Anne Marie Olivieri, adding: “I’ve noticed that there are so many accidents… Something has to be done, it’s ridiculous.”
They and 3,000 volunteers across the country will help Jones’ family and countless others in similar and unimaginable situations.
“This is something the industry needs and it is something we really care about,” she said.
Olivieri said everyone should think twice about what it takes to turn on the lights.
“It’s just about making the public aware of the lives lost and giving them something they take for granted,” she said.
The GoFundMe page will be updated with funeral arrangements as they become available.
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