A 37-year-old woman was killed Tuesday evening after severe storms brought down a live utility line in southeast Charlotte, according to neighbors and emergency crews. The line reportedly snapped and caught fire near Craig Avenue and Sharon Amity Road. A neighbor who heard a series of loud pops went outside, found the woman, and called Charlotte Fire. Authorities have not released her name or explained how she came into contact with the energized wire.
What we know so far
According to WBTV, the incident happened around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after strong storms moved through the area. Neighbor Scott Mallonee told the station he heard a series of popping sounds, saw the power line fail and ignite, then discovered the woman's body and alerted Charlotte Fire. WBTV reports it obtained video that appears to show the moments just before the line snapped.
Officials urge caution after downed lines
Per the City of Charlotte, residents should treat any downed power line as an emergency and call 911 instead of trying to move debris or handle a line themselves. Duke Energy likewise tells customers to assume fallen wires are energized, to report outages to 1-800-POWERON, and to give repair crews plenty of room to work. Emergency officials note that water, metal and loose debris can all conduct electricity, which makes storm-damaged lines especially dangerous.
What remains unclear
WBTV reports that investigators had not released additional details about how the woman was electrocuted or confirmed her identity at the time of publication. Neighbors told the station the scene was frightening and said the line appeared to fail suddenly during the storm. This story will be updated if authorities release more information.
