California Injury Lawyer Blog

The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating the January 14th San Bernardino power line accident. Authorities are investigating why high voltage power lines fell onto a San Bernardino home early Friday morning, killing a couple and their 21-year-old son in a horrific sequence of events that was witnessed by the couple's 17-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. After the couple heard a loud explosion, husband Steven Vego went outside to douse a backyard fire. When he came into contact with the power line, he was electrocuted. His wife Sharon Vego came out to assist and was also electrocuted. Her 21-year-old son, Jonathon Cole, was also fatally electrocuted when he went outside to try to help.

Not "Just an Accident"

While many are calling this a tragic accident, it likely could have been prevented. The investigation by the California Public Utilities Commission into the incident could take months. Southern California Edison has promised they will "leave no stone unturned so that [they] can take appropriate corrective actions. While this may be reassuring for others that live under power lines, it does nothing to undo the tragedy that killed three people on January 14th and shattered the future of two children. The family of the victims would be well advised to talk to a California personal injury lawyer who can arrange an independent investigation into the event and help them protect their legal rights. The electrical company may very well be liable and financially responsible for this horrible and heartbreaking accident.