A 5 am walk ended fatally for a California woman and her dog when they were electrocuted after accidentally stepping on a downed power line.
Madeline Kelly, 34, and her dog were reported dead by her boyfriend, following an unusual accident involving a weakened power pole. The incident occurred in Mendota, a city located 30 miles west of Fresno, on Wednesday morning, August 16.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office reported that the power pole and wires had recently fallen, likely due to a vegetation fire two days prior, which had weakened the pole. Kelly and her dog unknowingly walked into the live wires in the early morning darkness.
Utility company PG&E, responsible for the power lines, said they had not been alerted to the fire as it did not appear to affect the power lines at the time. The company is now collaborating with first responders to investigate the circumstances of the accident. In a statement, they expressed their sympathy for those affected by the incident.
Kelly’s family is in shock and seeking answers. Her mother, Melissa Rust, is deeply unsettled by the accident and seeks clarity.
