A man was electrocuted in Fayette County on Friday.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office reports that they were summoned to Laurel Hill Road in Dubar Township for a deceased person.
Aaron Cottrell, 32, was pronounced dead after an unintentional electrocution.
According to the coroner’s office, Cottrell was not on the site “in an employment capacity by the church or any commercial business.”
According to Pennsylvania State Police, Cottrell was discovered with a pole saw and a backpack. He had apparently been attempting to remove wire from electrical cables 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 states. “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,” Sherry Scully said.
Scully is an elder at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church in Dunbar Township.
She’s still shaken.
“That’s heartbreaking,” Scully stated. “To think that someone was so desperate. He created his own pole and everything! It resembled what West Penn had.
Neighbors’ power was temporarily turned off while first responders pulled 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,” Scully added. “He lost his life over $100.”
The investigation is ongoing.
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