Funeral services held for man electrocuted

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

LOVELY — A Martin County man died after being accidentally electrocuted along the bank of the Tug River Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Brandon Chapman, 36, of Tomahawk, died after getting entangled in live electric wires and struck with 7,200 volts, according to Martin County Coroner, Chris Todd, who pronounced him dead at the scene at 10:36 a.m.

Todd said that the accident occurred earlier in the morning, but because of the live wire, he had to wait for the electric company to arrive and turn off the power.

“It was approximately nine miles up Ky. Rt. 292, along River Front Road,” Todd said. “His wife said that he had gone over the bank to check out a building that was next to the river and that she went into the house and a short time later, she heard him scream and she heard the electric. She said she ran out and saw him and attempted to do CPR. The wire came from West Virginia, into Kentucky and the power company was fixing it.”

Kentucky State Police issued a release Feb. 9, saying they were conducting a death investigation involving Chapman and that the initial investigation indicated that Chapman was electrocuted near an abandoned building off River Front Road.

KSP Det. Tony Tackett is investigating and was assisted on scene by Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Chapman, a sawmill worker, is survived by his wife, Emily Damron Chapman; two daughters, Londyn and Saylor Chapman, both of Lovely; and two sisters, Danielle Chapman of Washington, D.C., and Jessica Crum of Georgetown.

Funeral services were Monday, Feb. 15, at Mullins Family Funeral Home with burial in Marcum Memorial Gardens.