A construction worker suffered a severe electrical injury at a south Lansing job site on Wednesday, Oct. 29, as crews were performing utility work in a busy commercial corridor, according to authorities.
Lansing police said the incident took place around 10:30 a.m. in the 4900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just north of West Jolly Road. Emergency responders arrived quickly, and the 39-year-old worker was airlifted to University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor for advanced treatment after what officials called a significant electrocution event. He remained in critical but stable condition as of late Wednesday. His hometown has not yet been disclosed.
According to the Lansing Board of Water & Light, the man was on-site as an employee of Hydaker-Wheatlake, a contractor frequently involved in electrical distribution and infrastructure upgrades in the region. A BWL representative confirmed that “someone was injured at the work site” but directed further questions to Hydaker-Wheatlake. The Reed City-based contractor did not return a phone message left by the State Journal seeking more information.
A battalion chief with the Lansing Fire Department acknowledged that firefighters responded to the scene but declined to provide additional details, instead directing inquiries to Scott Bean, spokesperson for Mayor Andy Schor. Bean also did not respond to messages requesting comment.
The project site features overhead power lines, underground utilities and heavy equipment — all common risk factors in utility construction zones. Electrical workers routinely face hazards associated with high voltage, proximity to energized lines and complex system maintenance. Even with strict safety protocols, electrocution remains one of the leading causes of fatal and life-threatening injuries in construction nationally.
State and federal workplace safety regulators, including MIOSHA, typically launch investigations following serious incidents involving electrical infrastructure. Such reviews often look into whether power lines were properly de-energized, whether workers had adequate protective equipment, and whether job procedures followed industry safety standards.
Local residents expressed concern over the visible emergency response in the area Wednesday, as traffic was diverted and crews worked to secure the site. Businesses nearby have seen an increase in utility construction activity in recent months as upgrades continue across Lansing’s power delivery network.
Hydaker-Wheatlake, the contractor involved, has been active throughout Michigan supporting electrical grid improvement efforts. The company has participated in storm restoration, line replacement and modernization programs designed to improve reliability for thousands of utility customers.
Colleagues and fellow construction professionals are awaiting updates on the worker’s recovery. Severe electrical shock injuries can involve long-term impacts including nerve damage, burns, and cardiovascular complications, which often require extended treatment and rehabilitation.
More information is expected as officials release updates on the worker’s condition and as investigations determine the sequence of events that led to the electrocution.
Originally reported by Ken Palmer, Lansing State Journal in Lansing State Journal.
