DUNBAR TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man was electrocuted in Fayette County on Friday.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office says it was called to Laurel Hill Road in Dubar Township for a deceased person.
Aaron Cottrell, 32, was pronounced dead due to an accidental electrocution.
The coroner’s office says Cottrell was not on the property “in an employment capacity by the church or any commercial business.”
According to Pennsylvania State Police, Cottrell was found with a pole saw and a backpack. He’d apparently been trying to take wire from electrical lines when he was electrocuted.
“The Pennsylvania State Police would like to remind the public that tampering with or attempting to remove wire from active electrical infrastructure is extremely dangerous and can result in serious injury or death,” PSP says. “High-voltage electrical lines can remain energized at all times and should never be approached or handled by unauthorized individuals.”
“As I got closer, I saw a body lying down here on the bank, but I guess someone passing by saw it on their way to work and reported it,” said neighbor Sherry Scully.
Scully is an elder at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church in Dunbar Township.
She is still shaken.
“That’s heartbreaking,” said Scully. “To think that somebody was that desperate. He made his own pole and everything! It looked like what West Penn had.
Power was shut off to neighbors for a period of time while first responders removed the wire from Cottrell’s body.
“I asked the power people what he would have gotten for the copper wire at a junk yard or whatever and they said he only would have gotten $100,” said Scully. “He lost his life over $100.”
The investigation is ongoing.
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