CAMP SPRINGS, MD – Two cousins tragically lost their lives in an apparent electrocution incident at a church in Prince George’s County on Thursday morning. The accident occurred at the First Baptist Church of Camp Springs on Allentown Road, where the men were engaged in roofing work.
Authorities report that the incident transpired around 9 a.m. while the two men were using a ladder to access the church’s roof. In a tragic turn of events, they came into contact with a 7,000-volt power line. Their bodies were later found covered with white sheets next to the church.
The men were employed by a company based in Carroll County, Maryland, which has yet to comment on the incident. Witnesses described the scene as harrowing, with one individual recounting the initial attempts to provide first aid but being thwarted by the live wire still connected to the ladder.
“I’m a combat medic,” one witness said, explaining their initial instinct to help. “But when I saw the wire attached to the ladder, I realized it was too dangerous. The men fell, one onto the ladder and the other beside it, with the electrical current still active. They burned for nearly an hour before the power was finally shut off.”
The tragedy has left the community shaken and mourning. A family member of the victims shared that the cousins were seasoned roofers originally from El Salvador. They had worked in roofing for many years without prior incidents.
“This was their first accident,” said a relative. “They never had issues like this before. It’s heartbreaking.”
Authorities have deemed the incident a tragic accident, with no foul play suspected. Members of the victims’ families visited the scene, taking the ladder the men had used and laying flowers in remembrance of their loved ones.
The community is left grappling with the loss, and prayers have been offered for the victims and their families during this difficult time.