Two people died Thursday morning after being electrocuted by a downed power line in Central Florida, according to police.
Authorities in Orange County, Florida stated that a man had been found unresponsive around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the intersection of Bayfront Parkway and Pershing Avenue. The man had exited his car and apparently touched a downed power line. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A woman traveling with the man was also electrocuted. She was transported to the hospital, where she died, according to Fox News.
We hate to bring you this tragic news, but two people are dead after they were electrocuted by a downed power line at Bayfront Pkwy & Pershing Ave early today. Never touch a downed power line. If you see one call 911 so OCSO & our partners can address the danger. pic.twitter.com/9Ra6sMUwIL
— Orange County Sheriff’s Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) November 10, 2022
The power line was downed in the wake of Tropical Storm Nicole, which made landfall in Florida early Thursday morning and weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm. As many as 350,000 Florida homes and businesses were left without power Thursday, Reuters reported. (RELATED: Tropical Storm Nicole Knocks Florida Homes Into Ocean)
Authorities warned Florida’s residents to exercise caution concerning downed power lines from the storm’s path.
“We are urging all of our residents and visitors to use extreme caution if they are outside in the wake of the storm today,” the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said, according to Fox News. “If you are driving and see a downed power line, change directions immediately.”
“This really is a reminder to use extreme caution when out after a storm,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said. “Never touch a downed power line. Always assume that it is a live wire.”
Tropical Storm Nicole continued to weaken into a tropical depression Thursday evening as it made its way north into Georgia, according to the Associated Press.