1 Worker Dies, 2nd Badly Hurt as Crane Touches Power Line

A crane being used by two workers hit an electrical line, electrocuting one man and critically injuring the second when he tried to help his co-worker.

Mario Mandujano, 30, of Riverside died in the Tuesday afternoon accident, said police Detective Scott Currie.

Denny McCarley, 41, of Riverside was in the San Bernardino County Medical Center with burns to his torso and arms, Currie said. McCarley was listed as critical and stable, a hospital spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The men, who worked for Foothill Engineering of Corona, were replacing a booster pump that irrigates citrus fields in southeast Corona when the accident occurred, Currie said.

McCarley, the crane operator, was lifting the pump into a shed when the top of the crane touched an overhead power line, Currie said.

Mandujano is believed to have received a fatal jolt of electricity when he touched the pump.

When McCarley left the crane truck to try to help, he apparently was hit by current when he touched the truck and a chain link fence, Currie said. McCarley managed to put in a radio call for help.

The accident is under investigation by police and by the state Occupational, Safety and Health Administration.

Power to about 500 homes in the area was briefly interrupted because of the accident, Southern California Edison officials said.