Two workers badly injured in Forsyth County construction accident

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. - A small pile of burned and bloody clothing sits next to a contractor's hard hat in the middle of a quiet construction site It's a heartbreaking reminder of what happened at this Forsyth County subdivision just before 9 a.m. Wednesday.

 "It's just a tragic accident that left two construction workers seriously injured. We're talking severe thermal burns," said Division Chief Jason Shivers, who works for the Forsyth County Fire Department.

Shivers told FOX 5's Portia Bruner his crews arrived at the Moss Creek subdivision off Drew Campground Road just after 9 a.m. and quickly determined both men needed to be airlifted to Grady Memorial in Atlanta. Authorities say both men were standing on the ground. One was holding ropes connected to the crane that was hoisting wooden trusses to the top of the house under construction.

Century Communities is developing the Forsyth County property. From the headquarters in Colorado, spokesman Andy Boian explained what investigators know about the accident.

 "The crane came dangerously close to the power line, but didn't actually hit the power lines. It was close enough to cause an arc of electricity to electrocute the truck and the man holding the ropes. Unfortunately, that's what set the man (holding the ropes) on fire," Boian told Bruner by phone.

The second worker who was standing nearby on the ground was injured when the large wooden trusses fell from the crane. OSHA investigators spent several hours on the scene inspecting the crane and talking to witnesses--including the crane operator who, officials say, was not injured.