After severe weather caused electrical outages in Virginia on Friday, sixty-three utility workers from Florida responded to help Dominion Power with its storm response and repairs. Sadly, on Tuesday, July 3, one of these workers was killed in a traffic accident in Loudoun County while driving a bucket truck on Route 7.
According to local Virginia news sources, 57-year-old Jacqueline Green was driving north on Blue Ridge Mountain Road outside of Bluemont when witnesses say her truck began experiencing brake malfunctions. She passed another company vehicle in a non-passing lane while picking up speed as the truck headed downhill. Finally, when the truck crossed the intersection of Route 7, it struck a tractor-trailer that, in-turn, struck a non-commercial truck.
Another utility worker, Jonathan Powell, was injured in the truck accident and transported by ambulance to Winchester Medical Center. He has since been treated and released. The driver of the tractor-trailer and the driver of the pickup truck both were injured and brought to local hospitals for treatment.
The bucket truck accident is currently under investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, though authorities believe the truck’s failed brake system is to blame. It is unclear when the truck’s brakes were last inspected, whether the brakes passed inspection, or whether the brake system displayed issues before the accident occurred.