Stock image of a fallen powerline.Photo:Alamy
Alamy
The Portland Fire & Rescue Department was dispatched “near the intersection of NE 122 and NE Siskiyou in the Russel Neighborhood” shortly before 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday due to a “possible car fire.”
Stock image of a fallen powerline near a home.EMILY KASK/AFP via Getty
EMILY KASK/AFP via Getty
The news release stated that it was an “emotionally heightened situation” and that the firefighters were “preparing for everything based on the range of rapidly updated information.”
Once they arrived, they found three individuals “located approximately 35' away from a full-size SUV with a powerline draped over the vehicle with a large tree branch over the top of the powerline resting on the hood of the SUV.”
The department said that “no flames were present” and that the power company de-energized the powerline.
“The individuals affected were occupants of the SUV and exited the vehicle following the branch bringing the live powerline down upon their vehicle. When the feet of the individuals touched the ground, and their bodies were touching the car they became part of the active electrical circuit which resulted in their deaths,” the press release read.
Oregon — likemuch of the U.S.— has been facing severe winter weather. On Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service reported thatroads remained “covered in ice& extremely slick across much of NW Oregon & SW Washington, especially in the Portland/Vancouver metro area.”
The city of Portlandissued a travel advisoryasking individuals to “avoid travel until conditions improve” and reiterated its warning in apress releaseon Wednesday afternoon.
“The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) urges the public to avoid travel tonight and Thursday morning, as a forecast of freezing rain overnight tonight – and again Thursday evening – could make travel hazardous,” the press release read.
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City officials advised their residents to “be prepared for worse conditions than expected, as forecasts come with uncertainty about timing and amount of freezing rain.”
source: people.com
