Woman and dog walking in Fresno County killed after live power lines fall, deputies say
UPDATE: Woman electrocuted to death identified
A woman and her dog were killed Wednesday when power lines from a damaged pole fell near Mendota, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said.
The woman was walking about 5 a.m. near Whitesbridge and San Mateo avenues in a rural part of eastern Fresno County, the sheriff’s office said.
A power pole had burned in the area Monday night and was weakened after Cal Fire crews put out the flames, the sheriff’s office said.
Fresno County Sheriff’s spokesperson Tony Botti initially said as the woman and dog passed through the area, the pole fell and the live wires came into contact with both of them, deputies said.
He said in an update about 2:35 p.m. Wednesday investigators believed the pole had fallen over night and the woman and dog touched the wires without seeing them in the dark early morning hours.
They were both pronounced dead by first responders.
The sheriff’s office said the woman lived in the area.
This story was originally published August 16, 2023 at 11:56 AM.
