A teen boy died after being electrocuted from jumping into a Virginia lake during a 4th of July celebration.
Jesse Hamric was visiting friends near Roanoke, Virginia with his family for the 4th of July. The recent Colorado high school graduate died after he jumped into an electrified lake. Two others felt the shock when assisting in the incident, which occurred on Thursday at Smith Mountain Lake.
The Smith Mountain Lake Marine Fire and Rescue Department reported fireboats were dispatched around 4 a.m. to the Craddock Creek Marina after receiving reports of a drowning at a dock.A man from Colorado was transported to a hospital, according to first responders, where he died from his injuries. Two others sustained minor injuries as well.
Teen Boy Dies After Being Electrocuted in Virginia Lake
According to witnesses, Hamric appeared to be in distress, causing two juveniles to attempt to rescue him from the water. They, too, felt the shock upon entering the water. They received treatment at the scene.
While investigators believe the cause of Hamric’s death is electrocution, they are still awaiting medical report results to confirm.
Hamric’s high school — where his father serves as principal and head football coach — released a statement in Steamboat Pilot & Today.
“Hamric graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in May and played as the starting quarterback for the Sailors football team the last two seasons,” the statement read. “He was also a standout player on the school’s baseball team, and carried a passion for snowboarding.”
The Steamboat Springs School District also released a statement on Friday.
“During this difficult time, the Steamboat Springs School District wanted to provide our families, staff, and students with the opportunity to find comfort and community with one another by opening the doors to the high school to anyone who needed support,” the statement read.
“Leaning on one another is more important now than ever. We would like to thank the mental health and crisis support professionals assisting our school community in processing this tragedy.”
