4 subway workers burned, 1 seriously at Union Square station

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Four MTA workers were hospitalized after they were injured while performing scheduled repairs in a subway tunnel early Thursday.

The workers were burned in an arc flash between the third rail and another conductive object around 3:30 a.m. at the Union Square Station. They were repairing third rail cables of the 4,5,6 subway lines.

They were taken to New York Cornell Hospital. Three of the workers suffered minor burns, and they were both treated and released.

The third, Wilbert Cummings, is in intensive care, but is alert and talking.

He sustained second- and third-degree burns to his face, ear, neck and right hand, with less serious injuries to his legs.

He is currently being treated at the New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell burn unit.

He has five years with the MTA and has been a power distribution maintainer for about a year.

An arc flash occurs when high voltage differences exist across a gap between conductors, resulting in an instant release of tremendous energy.

The accident resulted in a brief disruption on the No. 4 subway line. Service resumed around 6:30 a.m.