Power Line Accident Claims Three Lives in Portland
On Wednesday, a devastating accident occurred in Portland, Oregon, resulting in the loss of three lives and injuring a baby. The incident took place during an ice storm that made roads and mountain highways extremely dangerous in the Pacific Northwest.
According to reports, a power line fell on a parked car after a branch collapsed onto the line. Frantic calls started coming in to dispatchers shortly before noon, alerting them about the downed power line and people who appeared to be electrocuted, as stated by the city's fire department.
Amidst the chaos, a brave resident managed to grab the baby from one of the individuals lying on the street in an attempt to save its life. Tragically, upon the arrival of firefighters, it was discovered that two adults and one teenager had already lost their lives. The injured baby was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
"It appears as if they were scared and exited the vehicle," explained Rick Graves, a spokesperson for Portland Fire & Rescue.
Authorities believe that the victims were electrocuted after they exited the vehicle, based on the available information.
Daniel Buck, a resident living near the scene of the incident in northeast Portland, witnessed a person running out of a car with a downed power line on fire. He saw two other individuals on the ground, unable to be helped due to the live wire. Buck described the situation as "terrible."
The power company later deenergized the line, but did not specify which company was responsible, according to a statement.
Portland was severely impacted by icy conditions, making driving and walking nearly impossible. The storm that hit over the weekend caused extensive damage, and the region was under warnings for up to 1 inch of ice. The warning area was later reduced to parts of southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, including Portland.
The National Weather Service warned that freezing rain could return to the region on Thursday evening through Friday morning, particularly affecting the eastern Portland metro area and the western Columbia River Gorge.
Severe Storm Causes Chaos in Portland
Portland transportation officials urged the public to avoid using the roads until Thursday morning due to hazardous conditions caused by a severe storm. As a result, several school districts, including Oregon's largest, decided to cancel classes for a third consecutive day.
Tragically, three additional deaths were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total number of storm-related fatalities to at least seven. The previous weekend's storm had already claimed lives due to fallen trees and suspected hypothermia.
Diane Flaherty, a resident of a forested neighborhood in southwest Portland, shared her experience of being without power since Saturday. She had to leave her home and stay with her brother-in-law after witnessing a large tree in her front yard swaying dangerously in the strong winds.
"It felt like a war zone," Flaherty said, recalling the terrifying sound of trees cracking and crashing down on her neighbors' properties. "We were completely stunned."
The severe storm struck the northwest corner of the United States while other parts of the country were also grappling with bitter weather conditions that posed a risk to electricity supplies. As of Thursday morning, approximately 41,000 homes and businesses in Oregon were still without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
