Charged Fleet Logo

Lineman Dies from Electrocution, Boom Truck Removed from Service

A lineman for the Palo Alto Utilities Department in California was working alone in the bucket of the truck at the time of the incident.

December 2, 2019
Lineman Dies from Electrocution, Boom Truck Removed from Service

 

Photo of a bucket truck via Pixabay

1 min to read


The Palo Alto Utilities Department in California has removed a boom truck from service after a lineman died from electrocution. 

At the time of the incident, the utility crew was upgrading electrical transformers on a pole. The lineman, Donatus Okhomina, was alone in a bucket truck when he came into contact with a high voltage line, according to reports from the Daily Post. Utilities Director Dean Batchelor told the Post that he did not know what caused the incident. Batchelor added that the truck used had been in the fleet for a long time before the incident.

Ad Loading...

Okhomina joined the City of Palo Alto in November, the same month as the incident. According to a statement from the city, he had previous experience as a lineman at Pacific Gas & Electric, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, and while serving in the U.S. Air Force. The City of Palo Alto is working with the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal OSHA) for its review of the incident.

The Utilities Department has provided electric, gas, and water services to the City of Palo Alto for over 100 years and has not reported a work-involved death in over 30 years, according to a statement from the city.

Originally posted on Work Truck Online

More Charging

A transparent background of a wireless EV charger with black text over it in the center and the Charged Fleet logo in the top left
Charging•by News/Media Release•October 7, 2026

Honda Develops In-Motion Wireless EV Charging Technology for Commercial Vehicles

Honda, Taisei and Taisei Rotec are developing a road-embedded wireless charging system capable of transferring up to 150 kW, with public-road testing planned in Japan beginning in fiscal 2027.

Read More →
An Arnold Clark black building with an electric charger out front
Charging•by News/Media Release•September 30, 2026

Arnold Clark Charge Opens Six Ultra-Rapid EV Chargers in Huddersfield

The new public charging site brings the Arnold Clark Charge network to 63 locations across the U.K., with charging priced at 55 pence per kWh.

Read More →
A thumbnail for the 2026 annual reliability report from ChargerHelp
Charging•by News/Media Release•September 25, 2026

ChargerHelp Report Finds EV Charger Recovery Delays Can Stretch Beyond a Month

An analysis of approximately 500 million data points found charging issues requiring multiple work orders took a median of 32 days to resolve, highlighting the operational impact of diagnostics and repair coordination.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Xos charger hub standalone
Charging•September 9, 2026

Xos Mobile Charging Hub Surpasses 1 GWh of Energy Delivered

As fleets electrify, charging capacity does not always arrive on the same timeline as the vehicles. Operating data from one Xos Hub shows how mobile, grid-independent charging can support vehicles when permanent infrastructure or utility upgrades aren't available.

Read More →
A black rental car is at a ChargePoint stations
Charging•by News/Media Release•August 28, 2026

ChargePoint Adds Overhead EV Fast Charging at Portland International Airport

The installation can charge up to 20 rental vehicles simultaneously and uses overhead equipment to preserve ground-level space at the airport's Quick Turnaround Facility.

Read More →
A blue car and a pink octopus sit next to each other on a graphic for Octopus Charging
Charging•by News/Media Release•August 27, 2026

Octopus Energy Launches Public EV Charging App in U.S.

Octopus Charge allows EV drivers to locate and access public charging stations through a single app, building on the company's Electroverse platform in Europe.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A green graphic for a level 2 Schneider Charge
Charging•by News/Media Release•August 26, 2026

Schneider Electric Launches Level 2 Home EV Charger With Integrated Load Management

Schneider Charge uses integrated SmartAmp technology to adjust charging output based on household electrical demand and is available with NACS or J1772 connectors.

Read More →
Charged Fleet Off-Peak thumbnail showing a man beside an EV charger with green lightning and the text “Charger Reliability v. Gas Pump Ease.”
Charging•by Staff•August 5, 2026

Why EV Charging Reliability Is More Complicated Than It Looks

GridLink CEO Josh Silets explains what causes EV chargers to fail, why fleet operators often struggle to identify the source, and what questions they should ask charging vendors.

Read More →
a hand holding a phone with the MyChevrolet Energy Pass chargin app open
Charging•by News/Media Release•July 28, 2026

GM Adds ChargePoint Network to Energy Pass Platform

The integration gives GM EV drivers access to additional DC fast chargers and Level 2 stations through a single app while expanding the automaker's public charging ecosystem.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A rendering showing solar panels and mobile chargers with battery storage at an open-air sports venue.
Charging•by News/Media Release•July 9, 2026

Xos White Paper Asserts LA Olympics Will Lack Enough EV Chargers

The commercial EV fleet company recommends some faster and more flexible remedies to relieve the anticipated shortfall.

Read More →