Two Pacific Gas & Electric linemen were killed in a vehicle accident on Oct. 13, 2011 when the PG&E truck they were in went into the river in the Feather River canyon area.
Ryan Miles, 29, was a GC lineman and a seven-year IBEW member. Miles was married just four months ago.
Aaron Weiss, 31, was a five-year IBEW member. His wife Lisa is expecting a baby boy in three weeks.
A Letter Agreement between IBEW and PG&E permits employees to sell vacation and use the proceeds to benefit the families of Miles and Weiss.
There were four people in the vehicle at the time it went off the road. Miles and Weiss were in the front seat. The two survivors are 48-year-old Mike Diefenderfer, a 14-year IBEW member, and 25-year-old Loren Bird, a 5-year IBEW member. Both suffered minor injuries.
The California Highway Patrol said the truck was headed westbound at 4:30 PM when the right tires drifted off the road onto the dirt . Miles steered left to bring it back on the road, but the truck went into an uncontrolled skid, according to a report at krcrtv.com. The truck plunged into the Rock Creek Reservoir and sank in about 25 feet of water.
PG&E is investigating the accident. Local 1245 Business Rep. Brian Kapaun and Local 1245 members Casey Barker and Tyler Davidson are assisting. CalOSHA is expected to investigate as well.
Local 1245 extends its condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of these young IBEW brothers whose lives have been cut short.