Man Dies by Electrocution in State College After Severe Storm Damaged Power Lines

Updated 10:30 p.m. April 30.

A 22-year-old man died on Tuesday night after being electrocuted near a utility pole in State College following a severe storm that damaged power lines, according to borough police.

Bryce Lowman, of Chambersburg, was attempting to extinguish a mulch fire when he “encountered an active electric current” at about 7:15 p.m. on the 1500 block of University Drive, police wrote in a media release. He was pronounced dead at the scene,

His name was reported by the Centre County Coroner’s Office on Wednesday after being withheld until family members were notified. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week.

“This tragic incident occurred during a severe weather event hitting the State College area resulting in damage to many trees and utility lines,” police wrote on Tuesday night. “Please do not approach downed lines or areas where lines may be compromised. Notify 911 or utility companies of such circumstances and avoid those areas.”

He is the second State College resident to die by electrocution after a severe storm in the last six weeks. Gelin Tong, 23, was killed when he accidentally stepped on a downed power line on March 16 in Ferguson Township.

More than 36,000 people lost power on Tuesday night following the powerful, fast moving storm that brought winds as high as 80 mph in some places. The storm caused widespread damage, bringing down power lines and trees. Numerous road closures and tens of thousands of power outages continued into Wednesday.

In Centre County, West Penn Power customers should report power outages online, by calling 1-888-544-4877 or by texting OUT to 544487. While power outages should be reported only to your electric company, downed power lines should be reported by calling 911, according to West Penn Power. If you encounter a downed power line, do not touch it and stay at least 30 feet away.

“Public works crews are working to remove debris, and First Energy is working to restore power to the many customers affected by the mass outages in the Centre County,” State College police wrote.