Dowagiac man dies in electrical accident

Published 7:50 am Friday, May 23, 2014

A Dowagiac man died Thursday afternoon after receiving an electrical shock from a power line while attempting to install a TV tower with his son, according to a report from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

Timothy Curtis was pronounced dead at the scene, after multiple attempts to revive him from emergency personal. His son, Jonathon, who was also shocked from the line, was transported to Borgess Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.

At around 6:34 p.m., authorities responded to a 911 call from a residence on Middle Crossing Road in Silver Creek Township about a possible electrocution victim. When authorities arrived, they discovered the younger Curtis performing CPR on his unconscious father.

The officers determined that the two men, along with a juvenile, were installing a metal TV tower when it touched an overhead power line. Both Timothy and Jonathon were shocked by the line and were knocked unconscious. The uninjured juvenile, whose name was withheld by authorities, then called 911.

At some point before authorities arrived, Jonathon woke up and tried to revive his father. Deputies continued to perform CPR on the victim until the ambulance arrived, at which point their personnel took over. Curtis was eventually declared dead after revival attempts from responders with the Indian Lake Fire Department also failed.

Jonathon was first transported to Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, before being transferred to Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.

The incident remains under investigation. Deputies were assisted at the scene by Pride Care Ambulance, Indian Lake Fire Department, Dowagaic Police Department. and the Pokagon Tribal Police.