North Charleston authorities identified two contracted workers from New Jersey who died from electrocution on January 6, 2026, after their cherry picker basket contacted active power lines during gutter installation. Rolando Luis Mucu, 34, and Jose Tec Chub, 26, sustained fatal electrical shock and fire injuries around 6:38 p.m. on Goer Drive.​
Incident Response
North Charleston Police arrived to find the men on fire and entangled in lines; firefighters could not extinguish the blaze until Dominion Energy cut power. Rescue attempts to lower the cherry picker failed due to the energized hazard.​
Eyewitness Account
A witness who reported the incident had warned the workers as they neared the lines in the dark, using only phone flashlights that failed to illuminate the overhead wires. The tragedy underscores risks of working near utilities without proper lighting or spotters.​
