Man electrocuted at construction site

LIBERTY, Mo. -- A man installing city water wells was electrocuted by a power line Thursday.

Steve Hansen, the city's public works director, said the accident happened at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday, one mile east of Missouri 291. The victim died at the scene and his name has not been released.

"It's just an awful accident," Hansen said.

The man was in a bucket lift when he apparently touched high voltage electrical lines, said Liberty Fire Chief Gary Birch.

The man worked for Midland Electrical Corp. in Raytown for a decade, according to owner Vince Groff. He said company workers are devastated.

"He's been a friend of mine for a long time," Groff said. "He's just a really good guy."