NEW VINEYARD — Police say a Canadian trucker was shocked Wednesday when the boom of his truck hit a power line while he was delivering grain to Shady Lane Farm on Brahmer Road.

When the boom hit the wires, the grain truck was energized and operator Charles Bolduc, 21, of Cookshire, Quebec, was shocked, Franklin County Cpl. Matthew Brann said in his report to Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. 

Initially, the 2:55 p.m. 911 call was thought to be a motor vehicle accident with lines down.

“It was reported that a subject was down and had been electrocuted,” Brann wrote. “I arrived on scene at Shady Lane Farms and observed a grain truck with its boom extended, and that the boom was touching the power lines.”

New Vineyard Fire Department first responders were actively doing CPR on a male patient. Brann said he assisted them with CPR  and used his automated external defibrillator.

“We were able to get a pulse and when NorthStar (EMS ambulance) arrived on scene, they took over care for the patient,” he said.

Witnesses told Brann that Bolduc had extended his boom to unload the grain and accidentally got it into power lines, which energized the truck and shocked him.

Bolduc was taken to a hospital. It was unclear Thursday morning which one.

The owner of the truck, Equipment Yves Bolduc out of Cookshire, Quebec, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were contacted, Brann said.

Brann was assisted at the scene by Lts. David St. Laurent and David Rackliffe, Deputy Andrew Morgan, New Vineyard Fire Department, Farmington Fire and Rescue Department, NorthStar and Central Maine Power.

St. Laurent commended people at the farm, dispatchers, New Vineyard Fire Department and Brann for their quick action.

Franklin County dispatchers walked first responders through administering CPR to Bolduc, St. Laurent said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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