Man cut live wires, 3,300 power outages

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- An individual cut live wires which sent him to the hospital and caused 3,300 power outages in East Rock.

Around 4:00 p.m. Sammy Gonzalez, 24, was in the area of the Old English Power Plant in the 500 block of Grand Avenue and cut what he believed were de-energized wires.

At the same time, Firefighters and EMS responded to Mill River Street for a man who suffered third-degree burns from an electrocution.

Gonzalez told Firefighters he was electrocuted when he crossed train tracks.

However, surveillance videos show the individual cutting the wires.

Gonzalez was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital and was in critical, but stable condition. Gonzalez was then air lifted to Bridgeport Burn Center for further treatment.

All power was restored by 7:30 p.m.

Gonzalez is charged for burglary, criminal attempt to commit larceny and first-degree breach of peace for the service interruption.

The incident remains under investigation.