Man hurt when ladder falls on power line

A painter was critically injured Wednesday after his metal ladder fell into a high-voltage power line, the Arlington County Fire Department said.

The man, whose name was not released, was trying to extend his ladder outside a home on North Highland Street about 3:15 p.m. when the ladder slipped into nearby power lines carrying more than 19,000 volts of electricity.

The man, described as being in his mid-20s, did not have a pulse when rescuers found him, but they managed to resuscitate him, Ortiz said. He also suffered severe burns. He was listed in critical condition Wednesday night at a local hospital’s burn center.

-- Rick Rojas