Manhole Blast Injures Two People in Dupont Circle

Two people were injured and traffic at Dupont Circle was slowed Monday after a Pepco contractor accidentally touched a live wire in an electrical vault on 19th Street NW, authorities said.

Bob Hainey, a spokesman for Pepco said two contractors employed by the C.W. Wright Co. were working underground, pulling old wires around lunchtime when one of the men inadvertently touched a live wire and suffered an electrical shock.

D.C. Deputy Fire Chief Kenneth Crosswhite said the incident was initially reported as an underground explosion. He said the live wire that the worker grabbed apparently also touched another live wire, resulting in electrical arcing that ignited a flash fire and caused a loud noise. He said the worker suffered "severe burns to his upper extremities," including his face, and was in critical condition at Washington Hospital Center.

The other worker suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to a hospital for observation, Crosswhite said. He said the vault contains various feeds of high voltage.

Traffic in the area is being redirected because parts of 19th Street and the Dupont traffic circle have been closed.