Ready-Mixed Concrete Truck Driver Electrocuted by 22,900V; Crow Identified as Cause of Accident

Ready-Mixed Concrete Truck Driver in His 70s Electrocuted in Taean, South Chungcheong Province
Sustained Severe Burns and Airlifted to a Specialized Burn Hospital

An incident occurred in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, where a ready-mix concrete truck driver was electrocuted due to crows.

Crows are sitting on the power line. Photo by The Asia Business Daily DB

According to Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Taean Police Station, at around 11:52 a.m. on June 30, 2026, a man in his 70s, identified as Mr. A, who was driving a ready-mix concrete truck, was electrocuted near a farm road in Songhyeon-ri, Sowon-myeon, Taean, South Chungcheong Province.

The fire authorities responded to a witness report on the same day that said "the front wheel of the vehicle is on fire." When they arrived at the scene, the fire had already been extinguished. They found Mr. A collapsed with severe burns and transported him to a hospital.

At the time of the accident, Mr. A was conscious and had a pulse, but due to the seriousness of the burns, he was transferred by fire department helicopter to a specialized burn hospital. It has been reported that his life is not in danger.

Based on the fact that the vehicle's tire had burst, the police and KEPCO believe that a crow landed on an electric pole next to the farm road, causing a spark. As a result, a power line carrying 22,900 volts was severed, and the broken wire came into contact with the passing ready-mix truck.

This caused high-voltage current to flow, which led to the tire explosion. It was also reported that a burned crow was found at the scene.

A police official stated, "At this point, it appears that a high-voltage line was short-circuited and fell, and as the wire touched the top of the vehicle and the tire burst, Mr. A was also electrocuted. There was a burned crow at the scene. We are investigating exactly how Mr. A was electrocuted."

The Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) team that checked the power lines at the time immediately rushed to the scene and began repairs. A KEPCO official stated, "It seems the crow came into contact with the pole, which caused the line to break and led to a momentary power outage. There was only a brief blackout in the area due to this incident, and no other significant damage was reported."

Power outages and electrocution accidents caused by birds coming into contact with power lines occur repeatedly every year. In August 2024, for example, a safety-related power outage was implemented due to bird contact, resulting in a blackout in four apartment buildings with 1,000 households, as well as officetels and other buildings in Oryu-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul. Power was restored after about an hour.

Meanwhile, drivers of large vehicles are strongly advised to exercise particular caution when operating equipment near high-voltage lines, as even a small mistake can lead to fatal electrocution accidents. Drivers should always check for the presence of power lines and secure a safe distance before entering a work site. It is also critical to remain fully alert during operations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.