Accident halts Elgin bridge work

Authorities have confirmed that the two men killed in Elgin when their work truck basket hit power lines died of electrocution.

The Kane County Coroner conducted autopsies Thursday on John Maroulis, 44, and Javier Valadez-Chavez, 31, both of Chicago, and listed the preliminary cause of death as electrocution.

The men died Wednesday morning when their lift struck high voltage power lines under the Route 20 bridge over the Fox River.

More Coverage Links 2 killed in bridge mishap [6/11/08]

The men worked for the Eagle Painting and Maintenance Co., which has temporarily suspended its work.

The Lansing-based company has a $665,000 contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation for bridge painting.

The project, expected to take about a month, had just begun with the workers hanging plastic sheets from the bridge to shield the area from sandblasting in preparation for actual painting.

A company spokesman Thursday read a prepared statement saying Eagle would issue a formal statement when the investigation is complete -- and that work has been suspended. He did not elaborate.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to the families involved in this tragedy," he said.

Any workplace fatality triggers an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The OSHA inquiry is expected to be completed within six months.