NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
A Nashville Electric Service worker was injured when an underground electrical transformer blew Thursday morning in downtown Nashville.
The explosion occurred in historic Printer's Alley around 8:30 a.m.
Most of the electric lines and transformers downtown are underground so when maintenance is required, a worker has to climb down into a confined space to perform the work.
Authorities said James Ayers, an NES employee, was underground at the time of the explosion.
"We had some crews working here doing some maintenance work up the street and they came back to this particular vault right here, to open it up so they could work safely and it sounds like it may have what they called ‘flashed' on him," NES spokesperson Tim Hill explained.
Ayers managed to climb out of the hole before paramedics and the Nashville Fire Department arrived on the scene.
He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with minor injuries to his face and eyes.
District Fire Chief Buddy Byers said, "He was non critical. He was up and conscience and talking but they did take him to [Vanderbilt's emergency room] just because of the cuts to his face and eyes."
Church Street at Printer's Alley was blocked off while crews investigated.
"When something like this happens, something has either malfunctioned or something was done incorrectly," Hill said. "We don't really know at this time. It will be investigated to determine what has happened."
The roadway has since reopened.
