Worker Killed: Electrocuted, Struck By Motorcycles

By  //  March 20, 2015

killed Thursday night on S. Harbor City Boulevard

A man working on a utilities truck that was cleaning storm drains along S. Harbor City Boulevard was killed Thursday night as a result of an unusual chain of events.
A man working on a utilities truck that was cleaning storm drains along S. Harbor City Boulevard was killed Thursday night as a result of an unusual chain of events.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – A man working on a utilities truck that was cleaning storm drains along S. Harbor City Boulevard was killed Thursday night as a result of an unusual chain of events.

At 10:43 p.m. on Thursday night, the Melbourne Police Department responded to 440 S. Harbor City Boulevard in reference to two motorcycles striking a pedestrian in the southbound lanes.

According to police, when officers arrived, they discovered the pedestrian had been operating a large utilities truck while conducting the cleaning of storm drains along the northbound lanes of S. Harbor City Boulevard.

As the utilities truck driver drove northbound, the large boom on the top of the truck struck overhead power lines, causing them to break away from the poles and fall across both lanes of S. Harbor City Boulevard.

According to police, the driver of the truck then exited the vehicle and attempted to pick up the energized lines without safety gear and was immediately electrocuted and propelled across the roadway into oncoming southbound traffic.

Two Harley Davidson motorcycles, operated by 48-year old Robert Vipperman III of Palm Bay, and 47-year old John Wallace of West Melbourne, then struck the victim.

BREAKING-NEWS-SCD-180-13According to police, the driver of the truck then exited the vehicle and attempted to pick up the energized lines without safety gear and was immediately electrocuted and propelled across the roadway into oncoming southbound traffic.

Two Harley Davidson motorcycles, operated by 48-year old Robert Vipperman III of Palm Bay, and 47-year old John Wallace of West Melbourne, then struck the victim.

The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene and the cause of death is undetermined this time, according to police.

Both Vipperman and Wallace were treated at Holmes Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.

The victim’s name is being withheld pending the notification of his family.

According to police, no charges will be filed in this case and the investigation is ongoing.

The Melbourne Police Department is currently investigating this incident and more information may be available at a later time. If you have any information please call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477)

STAY TUNED TO SPACECOASTDAILY.COM FOR UPDATES