Utility Worker Escapes Serious Injury After 18-Wheeler Collides with Bucket Truck

In Denham Springs, Louisiana, a utility worker was involved in a near-miss incident when an 18-wheeler collided with the bucket truck he was using to repair a traffic light at a busy intersection. The accident was captured on video by a motorist stopped at a red light.

As vehicles turned from the I-12 exit onto Range Avenue, the utility crew was working on a traffic light suspended above the right lane. The semi-truck, making a wide turn into the outside lane, struck the bucket truck’s arm, causing a severe jolt.

The force of the impact partially broke the bucket from its arm, dislodging the worker who was tethered in the basket. He was flung upside down but was still secured by his harness. The worker was left hanging over the road while his coworker hurriedly moved to assist him.

The collision scattered debris and tools across the street, and the semi-truck driver pulled over shortly afterward, explaining he was unaware how low the bucket was over the street. Fortunately, the worker sustained only minor injuries and was not taken to the hospital.

The incident prompted an investigation by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, as the traffic light is under state jurisdiction. Officials emphasized the importance of safety harnesses, which the worker was using at the time, to prevent injury in such accidents.