Staff Photo by Jeff Whitten

Eric Benson, a lineman working for Southern Electric, is airlifted to the Med in Memphis after being injured while working on a power line in Finger June 12. According to Howard Russom, who lives on the property where the lineman was working, he was sitting in the bucket and fell over. “He was not in good shape,” said Finger Fire Chief Steve Stoll, who along with other first responders helped to move the lineman to the ambulance and transfer him to the Air Evac helicopter. Jackie Harris, a spokesperson for the Med, said Friday that Benson was in serious condition. Southern Electric spokesman Terry Teebo declined comment when asked about the condition of the lineman and details about the accident.