Three Utility Workers Killed by Car Collision
Three Service Electric Company employees were killed April 2 when two cars collided and one careened into them while they worked on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 27.

Photo courtesy of Service Electric
Service Electric Company posted several photos on its website of two bucket trucks holding up the American flag in honor of the fallen workers.

Photo courtesy of Service Electric
Service Electric Company posted several photos on its website of two bucket trucks holding up the American flag in honor of the fallen workers.
Three Service Electric Company employees from Georgia were killed April 2 when two cars collided and one careened into them while they worked on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 27, reported several news sources.
The workers — Jeremy Bradshaw, 35, of Albany; Dewey Summerlin, 34, of Franklin; and Jeffrey Estes, 40, of Ringgold — died at the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A six-man work crew was erecting a power pole about 20 feet off the highway — one on a crane, one on a boom, one in a truck and the three eventual victims on the ground.
According to investigators, 92-year-old Ira Caldwell Jr. of Davenport was driving a 2006 Cadillac DTS and making a right turn from Cornerside Boulevard into the middle lane of US 27 South. He pulled into the path of a southbound Chevrolet Lumina driven by 20-year-old Alexandra Schultz of Clermont. The front of the Cadillac hit the right side of the Chevrolet, causing it to veer off the highway and into the three workers. One of the workers was pinned underneath the Chevrolet, reported the Daily Commercial.
Schultz received minor injuries and was taken to South Lake Hospital. Caldwell was unhurt.
FHP Sgt. Montes said the utility workers followed all the necessary precautions to ensure they were visible. They were behind a yellow fence, wore bright vests and stood 15 to 20 feet from the road. The section of the highway was marked by orange work signs, and the workers were also wearing helmets and were operating in a metal barricade to help protect them.
Service Electric Company sent out a statement following the incident: “Service Electric Company is saddened by the tragic accident that occurred in Davenport, Florida, today, April 2, 2015,” the statement reads. “Our thoughts and prayers first and foremost go out to our employees and their families.”
Alcohol is not believed to have played a role in the accident, according to FHP officials. Charges are pending against the 92-year-old driver.
Flowers and printed prayers have been placed at the crash site. Among them was a colorful bouquet that could been seen sticking out of the bottom end of a huge power pole laying on the ground on the west shoulder of U.S. Highway 27. It was the same pole the workers had been preparing to raise when the car careened 20 feet off the road and plowed into them.
Service Electric Company also posted several photos on its website April 8 of two bucket trucks holding up the American flag in honor of the fallen workers.
More Utility Fleet
Inside the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference
What is EUFMC? For more than seven decades, the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference has served as a hub for collaboration, education, and innovation within the utility fleet industry. In this video, Work Truck talks to EUFMC President Greg Loew to learn more.
Read More →Inside the EUFMC Equipment Expo & Drive-Through
Follow Work Truck as we check out the trucks and other vehicles that were showcased at the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. Whether looking for something on tires or treads, it was there for fleet managers to see.
Read More →
Terex Utilities & Kiley Unveil Custom America 250 Bucket Trucks at EUFMC 2026
Terex Utilities showcased a patriotic spirit in its booth this week during the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia, by debuting two custom-wrapped bucket trucks celebrating America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Read More →
Panasonic Connect & Anterix Strengthen Connectivity Options for Utilities and Field Workers
The Panasonic Connect Toughbook 56 is the first Toughbook to earn the AnterixActive badge, which means it can connect to and operate on Anterix’s 900 MHz network even in the most remote locations.
Read More →
Why Fleet Managers Are Replacing Departmental Vehicles with Shared Motor Pools
Departmentally assigned vehicles often create hidden costs through underutilization, poor visibility, and increased administrative burden. This white paper explores how shared motor pool strategies help fleets reduce costs, improve accountability, and optimize vehicle utilization.
Read More →
Streamlight Launches Portable Scene Light III & LiteBox 1Million
Streamlight has launched its Portable Scene Light III (PSL III), which delivers up to 10,000 lumens, and the LiteBox 1Million, a long-range search light that delivers one million candela.
Read More →
EUFMC 2026 Matches Fleet Registration Record
EUFMC 2026 registration has surpassed last year’s fleet registration record, and the event will deliver a variety of topics during its educational program, Driving Safety, Sustainability & Technical Expertise.
Read More →
What to Expect from PALFINGER in 2026
Work Truck visited with Ismael Daneluz, vice president of sales and service for PALFINGER North America, to discuss where the company is headed in 2026. In this video, he discusses new products and a strategic growth outlook.
Read More →
Boosting Last-Mile Fleet Uptime, Safety, and Value with AI Vehicle Inspections
AI-powered inspections are transforming last-mile fleets by replacing manual checks with highly accurate automated scans that detect defects in seconds. By giving fleet operations visibility into the daily condition of their vehicles, you can identify trends over the vehicle’s lifecycle that enable improved procurement decisions, route management, driver training and accountability.
Read More →
DICA Launches Complete Engineered Ground Protection Line
DICA’s new Ranger HD, Defender MD, and Titan mat systems deliver scalable, high-performance ground protection solutions. All are being exhibited this week at CONEXPO 2026.
Read More →
