CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 37-year-old woman was pronounced dead after coming into contact with a live, fallen power line during storms that swept through southeast Charlotte Tuesday night, authorities said.
What happened
Around 7:30 p.m. July 7 on Craig Avenue near Sharon Amity Road, a power pole failed and a line landed on the street, setting portions of the wire on fire. A neighbor who discovered the scene captured video and found the woman on the ground; paramedics later pronounced her dead at the scene.
“I looked out the door and saw the power pole on fire,”
— neighbor Scott Mallonee, describing what he saw outside his home
Charlotte Fire Department officials warned residents to assume any downed power line is energized and dangerous. Division Chief Timothy Brown emphasized that contact with a live line can leave a person unable to let go.
“Stay away from a power line. Stay away from it. Call 911. Fallen power lines have direct current and once it gets ahold of you it doesn’t let go,”
— Division Chief Timothy Brown, Charlotte Fire Department
Response and investigation
First responders were dispatched after the neighbor alerted emergency services. Duke Energy crews later restored power to the block and said the company will continue to cooperate with local authorities investigating the incident. In a statement, Duke Energy offered condolences to the woman’s family and said it was working alongside investigators.
- Incident time: about 7:30 p.m., July 7
- Location: Craig Avenue near Sharon Amity Road, southeast Charlotte
- Victim: 37-year-old woman (identity not released)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Cause | Contact with fallen live power line |
| Utility | Duke Energy (responding and restored power) |
| Emergency advice | Call 911; avoid downed lines |
The incident underlines public-safety risks that accompany summer storms across Mecklenburg County and the wider region. Downed electrical lines are a known hazard during severe weather; emergency officials remind residents to maintain distance, avoid driving over downed wires and to report hazards to 911 or their utility provider.
Neighbors described the scene as shocking, and one who narrowly avoided the same hazard said the event remains on his mind. Duke Energy and local authorities will continue the investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal contact.
For Charlotte residents, the episode is a reminder to treat storm damage — particularly damaged power infrastructure — as a life-threatening emergency. Authorities advise keeping children and pets away from downed lines and using established channels to report outages and dangerous conditions.
