Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Spanish Town, St. Catherine

One of two employees of a contractor working with the Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd. (JPS), who was electrocuted while carrying out emergency repair work for the light and power provider at the Tredegar Substation, has died in hospital.

The other employee has been admitted in very serious condition.

The JPS worker killed has been identified as 20-year-old Denton Parker of a Johns Road address. The other man's name has been withheld by the authorities.

It is reported that, about 1:30 yesterday afternoon, Parker was among a group of men who were carrying out repairs to the JPS's broken power lines when he picked up a transformer and was thrown in the air after a loud sound was heard.

According to eyewitnesses, when he fell, smoke was coming from all areas of his body. He and his injured colleague were taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where Parker died.

Marred restoration efforts

Winsome Callum, JPS head of corporate communications, said the incident had marred restoration efforts in the wake of Hurricane Dean.

"Preliminary reports are that two line personnel employed to the contractor were injured when a concrete pole that was being lifted made contact with 138kV circuit at the Tredegar Substation in St Catherine," Ms. Callum said in a statement yesterday.

She added: "JPS is saddened by this unfortunate event, and extends condolences to the family of the deceased, and best wishes for the recovery of the other person involved in the incident."