A San Bernardino couple and their adult son were very tragically killed Friday morning when Southern California Edison power lines fell in their backyard and electrocuted them. According to the Los Angeles Times, at about 5:45 a.m. Friday, Steven Vego, a 44-year-old plumber went outside to investigate a sequence of loud explosions. Vego's wife, Sharon Vego, went out to the front yard of their home on Acacia Avenue near 54th Street in San Bernardino to try and put out fires apparently sparked by the fallen power lines.
From inside the home, Steven's 17-year-old daughter saw her father step over the fallen power line and fall to the ground. She called out to her mother, who rushed to the backyard. When Sharon touched her husband, she fell to the ground as well. Sharon's 21-year-old son Jonathan Cole raced outside next and also fell to the ground.
The LA Times reported that Steven and Sharon's 17-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son watched the sequence of events in horror and immediately called 911. Emergency responders were initially unable to reach the victims because the downed power lines were still electrified. The power was shut off by Southern California Edison about 15 minutes later.
According news reports, friends and relatives of the Vego family expressed outrage and anger because a power line had previously fallen in the couple's backyard. The family questioned whether the line was properly repaired.
Who is Responsible?
This accident may have been 100% preventable. Southern California Edison provides 11 million people with electricity, and they have every responsibility and obligation to transmit electricity safely, taking into consideration high wind forces, lighting strikes, and adverse weather conditions. Fallen power lines are a serious safety risk to everyone, as they transmit enough voltage to kill any living thing that comes in contact with them. This January 14th San Bernardino incident will be investigated by OSHA and the California Public Utilities Commission. Based upon the news reports of this horrific incident, there is a very real possibility that the power line was not correctly repaired when it fell several years ago.
Downed Power Line Wrongful Death Liability
If the power company did not correctly repair the downed line, or if for any other reason they failed to maintain the power line, Southern California Edison may be financially liable for the resulting three lives lost for failing to properly repair the lines. While this incident remains under investigation, the family members of the Vego family would be well-advised to speak to an experienced California wrongful death lawyer who may be able to help them protect their legal rights to hold whoever is responsible for this devastating incident accountable to the maximum extent. After an incident as significant as this one, it would be advisable to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible, while important evidence is most readily available.
Sources: ABC 30 Local News, Los Angeles Times
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