Man electrocuted while removing antenna from home

© WCVB taunton electrocution scene

A man was killed Thursday when he was electrocuted while attempting to remove an exterior antenna from a Taunton, Massachusetts, building, local and state officials said.

Investigators said the man was on a fire escape removing an antenna from the three-story Danforth Street building at about 7:30 a.m. The antenna made contact with a nearby power line, killing him and setting the building on fire.

Jimmy McDonald said his co-worker witnessed the incident.

“(My co-worker) was in the truck, getting ready to drive out, said he heard a crackling noise, looked up, saw sparks and saw the guy going on fire,” he said.

Taunton firefighters extinguished the fire, and no other injuries were reported.

The victim’s name has not been released. He was the building's landlord and was from Easton.

The incident remains under investigation by Taunton Fire, Taunton police, State Fire Marshal's Office and the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.

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