DeLEON SPRINGS, Fla. – An 89-year-old DeLeon Springs man was killed Monday morning after apparently touching a downed power line, one of three deaths in Volusia County related to Hurricane Matthew, authorities said.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said a power line was downed by a falling tree behind a home in the 6000 block of State Road 11.
The incident was reported to the Sheriff’s Office at 7:58 a.m. Monday, and seven minutes later, deputies received a second call reporting that a man was dead near the wire, with flames nearby.
Deputies identified the victim as Marshall Bailey.
Bailey's son called 911 and told the dispatcher he found his father dead by the wire.
“He’s laying there right by the wire and there’s fire around him,” he said after the dispatcher asked how he knew Bailey was dead.
The Sheriff’s Office’s is investigating, and the Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.
A DeLand woman died last week when she was struck by a falling tree, officials said. The woman was feeding her animals during a lull in the storm when she was killed, according to officials.
A 9-year-old boy died Monday in Daytona Beach from what was believed to be carbon monoxide poisoning, officials said. A generator was being used inside the family's home, according to fire rescue officials.
Meanwhile, an Orange County woman and a Putnam County woman also died in Hurricane Matthew-related incidents.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office sent out a list of safety tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminding people of the electrical dangers after a hurricane.
- Never touch a fallen power line. Call the power company to report fallen power lines.
- Do not drive through standing water if downed power lines are in the water.
- If you believe someone has been electrocuted, call 911.
- Avoid contact with overhead power lines during cleanup and other activities.
- If a power line falls across your car while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not turn off the ignition. Warn people not to touch the car or the line. Call 911. Do not allow anyone other than emergency personnel to approach your vehicle.
- If electrical circuits and electrical equipment have gotten wet or are in or near water, turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel. Do not enter standing water to access the main power switch. Call an electrician to turn it off.
For the full list of safety tips visit www.cdc.gov.