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Workers Stuck In Cherry Picker After Hitting High Voltage Wires In Everett

EVERETT (CBS) - Two construction workers smiled as they headed home after surviving hitting a voltage power line on Air Force Road in Everett.

English is not their first language. One said he "felt good" and the other said he had "no complaints."

Jim Marquardo works about 200 yards away from the construction site.

"It was a loud explosion. We all came out to see what was going on," said Marquardo. "Like a bolt of lightning type of spark shattered all over the place we knew there was a problem."

Firefighters said the two workers were in a cherry picker when early Friday afternoon it came into contact with a power line carrying 115,000 volts of electricity.

National Grid said electricity was cut to the line, but with that amount of power they could not lower the men to the ground. Crews brought in special equipment to ground the line.

"It's not something you want to play around with it," said Michael Mendid of National Grid. "We don't want to have injuries."

After more than 3.5 hours in the air, the two started moving the basket toward the ground. The men hung on as the basket stayed angled. They were able to walk onto the ground. Paramedics checked them out and the two men went home.

"Very lucky indeed, it's a good day for them, a good day for them. A little bit cold for them but good day to go home," said Mendid.

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