Woman electrocuted to death near Mendota identified. She and dog walked on downed lines

The Fresno County Coroner’s Office on Thursday identified the woman killed when she was electrocuted after walking on a downed line from a power pole near Mendota.

She was Madeline Kelly, 34, of Mendota.

The power lines in the 27900 block of Whitesbridge east of Mendota came down after the poles were likely damaged during a fire on Monday. Cal Fire put out the blaze, but it scored a power pole and weakened it, the sheriff’s office said.

On Wednesday, Kelly and her dog were walking in the same area at 5 a.m. The sheriff’s office said it appeared the pole and wires recently had recently fallen to the ground and that Kelly likely did not see them because of the darkness.

She and the dog walked into the live wires, killing them both.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office shared this photo on social media describing the death of a 34-year-old woman and her dog who apparently walked on fallen power lines and were electrocuted west of Mendota, California, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office shared this photo on social media describing the death of a 34-year-old woman and her dog who apparently walked on fallen power lines and were electrocuted west of Mendota, California, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023.