A north Georgia woman died Wednesday afternoon after being electrocuted by downed power lines, according to police.
Stephanie Diaz, 19, of Ellijay, walked outside after electricity went out at the home where she was babysitting, Ellijay Police Chief Edward Lacey said late Wednesday.
A storm had toppled a tree, which caused power lines to fall, Lacey said. Investigators believe that the woman was electrocuted while walking on the wet ground, about 25 feet from downed power lines. A neighbor called 911 after seeing the woman on the ground.
Emergency responders had to wait for electricity to be turned off before trying to rescue the woman, Lt. Frank Copeland with the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office said. Diaz died on the way to the hospital, Copeland said.
The sheriff’s office assisted Ellijay police with the investigation, but the death is believed to be accidental.
An autopsy will be conducted, but electrocution is believed to be the cause of death, Gilmer County coroner Jerry Hensley told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Ellijay is located about 80 miles north of Atlanta.
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