Two construction workers injured in electric outage

ISD

ISD

Michaela Ramm

Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that the two injured individuals were not employees of the City of Ames.

Two construction workers were injured when the cement truck they were operating came in contact with an overhead electric distribution line Monday morning.

A concrete driver and a contractor were injured while working on a project at 3505 Lincoln Way, according to a press release from the city of Ames.

The workers were Kevin Keech, 54, of Story City, who is an employee with Iowa State Ready Mix; and Matthew Rhodes, 46, of Nevada, who is an employee of Hetzler and Rhodes Concrete Construction.

The men were operating in or near the concrete truck when contact with the power line occurred, the press release stated.

The two men were transported to Mary Greeley Medical Center, where they were both treated. Keech was later transported to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, according to city of Ames press release.

The construction site is a private, mixed-use redevelopment project.

Ames Electric Services equipment detected contact of the equipment and the electric line at about 9 a.m. The incident created a power outage, which affected more than 100 people in west Ames and lasted until 11:04 a.m.