The coroner has released the identity of a 67-year-old man who died in a freak accident after he was trimming trees in his yard near Wauconda when he got electrocuted Saturday, leaving him hanging in the trees.
The Wauconda Fire District and Lake County Sheriff’s office responded around 3:55 p.m. Saturday to the area of Bonner Road and Jackson Avenue in unincorporated Wauconda for a report of downed wires and an unresponsive subject.
Firefighters arrived and found a man who had been electrocuted and was dead on arrival in the yard of a home in the 28500 block of North Jackson Avenue.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the man on Tuesday as Edward Topel, 67, of Wauconda.
Topel lived at the home where the incident occurred, Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said.
A preliminary investigation shows the man was on a ladder and trimming trees near overhead power lines, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said.
A branch is believed to have made contact with a live wire, electrocuting him.
“When first responders arrived, the power lines were still actively arcing in the trees and electrical service to the area had to be shut off before crews could safely access the victim, who was located approximately 15 feet above the ground,” Covelli said.
ComEd crews quickly responded and de-energized the wires, allowing emergency crews to remove the man and turn him over to the Lake County Coroner’s Office, Wauconda Fire District Lt. Luke Stasieczek said.
No one else was injured.
Around 600 residents in the area lost power, Stasieczek said.
Firefighters remained on the scene for around two hours.
ComEd crews were seen carefully removing parts of trees where the electrocution occurred while the coroner’s office investigated.
Banek said an autopsy was performed at the Lake County Coroner’s Office on Tuesday and the preliminary results showed Topel died as a result of thermal and electrical injuries as a result of the incident.
The incident remains under investigation by the sheriff’s office and coroner’s office, but authorities believe it was an accident.
“At this time, there are no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. It appears to be an unfortunate accident,” Covelli said.