Decatur: Ameren Lineman Taken to Hospital in Critical Condition After Being Electrocuted on South Shores

An Ameren lineman was taken to a Decatur hospital in critical condition after being electrocuted while restoring power in the South Shores neighborhood on Friday evening.

Decatur Police Department dispatch logs show officers were called at 6:57 p.m. on June 12 to a residence on Ford Drive for a lineman in distress, according to WICS/WRSP.

"Justin Kraus, a Battalion Chief with the Decatur Fire Department, said firefighters responded to an Ameren lineman hanging from a utility pole in the area of 4th Drive and South Shores Avenue around 7 p.m."

Kraus said other Ameren employees on the scene were working to lower the injured worker from the pole. The worker appeared unresponsive when firefighters arrived, according to WCIA.

Crews brought the lineman down and firefighters attempted resuscitation on the scene. He was then transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition, Kraus said. His condition as of Sunday afternoon remained unknown, according to WCIA.

Ameren Issues Statement

Ameren Illinois provided a statement to WAND on Monday:

"On Friday evening, an Ameren employee was injured while restoring power in a Decatur neighborhood. The health and safety of our employees and the communities we serve is our highest priority. Our thoughts are with our co-worker, his family, and all those close to him."

It remains unclear exactly how the accident occurred. WAND reported it is still unknown what the worker's condition was as of Monday afternoon.

A Dangerous Job in a Storm-Battered Region

The accident came just days after severe storms tore through Central Illinois, leaving thousands without power. Ameren reported at least 25,000 customers lost electricity on June 17 alone, with the hardest-hit areas including Decatur, Charleston, and Mattoon, according to an Ameren Illinois storm update.

More than 380 distribution and sub-transmission poles were downed across the region, Ameren said. Replacing a broken power pole can take several hours depending on site conditions, the utility noted.

Linemen face electrical hazards, extreme weather, and heavy equipment every time they climb a pole. This incident in Decatur underscores the risks these workers take to restore power for the communities they serve.

What Comes Next

The Decatur Fire Department did not provide further updates on the worker's condition. WCIA said it reached out to Ameren for additional comment but did not immediately hear back.

No investigation details have been released by Decatur police or Ameren Illinois. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration typically investigates serious workplace injuries involving utility workers.