MURRAY – While details are still sparse, more information was released today regarding the accidental death of an electrical contractor that occurred yesterday outside of Waterfield Library on the campus of Murray State University.
Calloway County Coroner Ricky Garland confirmed this afternoon that next-of-kin had been notified and identified the man as 49-year-old Jerry Humphrey of Caldwell County.
Humphrey was part of a crew from Groves Electrical Services, a company based in Madisonville, Kentucky. MSU Executive Director of Marketing and Communication Shawn Touney told The Sentinel this afternoon that the crew was doing work related to a water main break near Waterfield.
According to scanner traffic recordings provided to The Sentinel by murrayscanner.com, the call to first responders went out at 12:11 p.m. yesterday, with dispatchers advising that a man had been struck by high-voltage electricity and was not breathing.
At the time of the accident, Humphrey was working inside what appeared to be an industrial outdoor junction box (also known as a modular enclosure) located in the parking lot between John W. Carr Hall and the Waterfield Library, Garland advised, noting the pad-mounted metal unit was large enough that Humphrey could stand in it.
Per the murrayscanner.com recordings, first responders were not sure upon arrival if the power to the enclosure was disconnected. Units stood down for approximately 10 minutes until Murray Electric System arrived to cut all power sources, including any back-up generators. Garland arrived on scene around 1:30 p.m. and pronounced Humphrey deceased shortly thereafter.
Garland said that the cause of death appeared to be electrocution; however, an autopsy will be necessary to confirm that. The body was transported to Louisville today for the autopsy, but it will likely be a few weeks before the results are available.
Because it was a workplace accident, Garland advised he is confident that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will conduct an investigation but added that, as of this afternoon, the agency had not contacted him.
The university released a statement about the accident last night. “Earlier today, an electrical contractor performing work on our campus was involved in a tragic incident,” it read. “Our deepest condolences go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
As of this morning, Groves Electrical Services had no comment on the incident.
According to Humphrey’s obituary, he was born in Louisville to Jerry Lavon and Charlotte Stiles Humphrey in June 1975. It notes that he “enjoyed turkey and deer hunting with his mother, running any type of heavy equipment and spending time with his family.” Morgan’s Funeral Home in Princeton, Ky., is in charge of arrangements, but no services are planned at this time.
CORRECTION: This story was intially published with an incorrect headline. We apologize for any confusion.
