This is so sad. And I just saw it on the local news website. It looks like one of the men killed was from NH. About 20 minutes from where I live
I agree, these men are true heroes. Here's the article I found.
N.H., Michigan Power Workers Killed In Florida Crash
Out-Of-State Workers Came To Help With Hurricane Charley Cleanup
POSTED: 11:12 am EDT August 24, 2004
UPDATED: 5:42 pm EDT August 24, 2004
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A power worker from New Hampshire and one from Michigan in Florida helping with the cleanup from Hurricane Charley were killed Tuesday in a crash with a tractor-trailer.
The accident closed all but one lane of Interstate 4 eastbound for two hours. It happened just west of U.S. Highway 92 near Daytona.
Officials said two visiting electric line workers from PAR Electric were traveling in the right lane of I-4 when their truck slammed into the back of a flatbed tractor-trailer that was parked on the shoulder. The driver of the flatbed truck was sleeping at the time of the crash. When the power truck hit the tractor-trailer, it veered into the grass and flipped.
The tractor-trailer had its flashers on and was parked in an area adjacent to a designated rest area. A representative of Florida Highway Patrol said the power truck swerved to the right for unknown reasons and hit the rear of the trailer, pushing it into traffic.
The power workers survived the crash, and bystanders tried to rescue them. However, moments later, the truck burst into flames, killing both men, according to officials.
FHP identified the driver of the power truck as John E. Vahey, 48, of Freemont, N.H. His passenger, who was from Michigan, has not been identified yet pending notification of next of kin. Police said they do not know whether the two men were wearing safety belts.
Kenneth W. Popjoy, 51, of Oklahoma, was the driver of the tractor-trailer. He was not seated at the wheel at the time of the accident -- he was asleep in the berth area. He suffered minor injuries, and police said there was no alcohol involved.
The accident caused about $25,000 in damages to the PAR truck and $20,000 to Popejoy's truck.
"It was just too much, too fast, too hot, too many flames. It's just very sad," said Walter Nettles, of the Volusia County Fire Services.
Police said the two men were badly burned in the crash.
"When we got on the scene, the truck was completely engulfed in flames. It was terrible. It was just absolutely a hot fire," said Nettles.
The workers were in Central Florida to help restore power to the thousands of residents left in the dark after Hurricane Charley.
"The citizens of Orlando will be forever grateful to these men who came to our assistance in our time of need. My condolences go out to their families and loved ones," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
"These men made great personal sacrifices to come here and help us rebuild our city in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley," said Ken Ksionek, general manager and CEO of Orlando Utilities Commission.
The men were part of a 52-person contingent from PAR Electric, and company officials said they were headed home after one week in Orlando. PAR Electric is an electrical contracting company based in Kansas City, Mo.
