Two die after being electrocuted while working on church roof, Maryland cops say
Two men working on the roof of a Maryland church died after being electrocuted by a power line, police said and news outlets reported.
The deadly incident happened at about 10 a.m. May 6, a spokesperson for the Prince George’s County Fire Department told McClatchy News. The men, who have not been identified, were working to repair shingles on the roof of First Baptist Church of Camp Springs, WRC-TV reported.
McClatchy News reached out to the church May 6 but did not receive an immediate response.
According to a preliminary investigation, the fire began when a ladder touched a power line, a spokesperson for Prince George’s County Police Department told McClatchy News in a May 6 email.
Witnesses told WRC-TV they saw the men’s bodies on fire but couldn’t step in and help. It took about 45 minutes for the power company to turn off the power so emergency responders could step in, according to the outlet.
A spokesperson for Pepco told McClatchy News they were aware of the incident.
“Our thoughts are with the individuals impacted by this event,” the spokesperson said in a May 7 email. “... We are working closely with local authorities as the investigation continues.”
Police said the Office of the Chief Medial Examiner will decide the cause of death.
Camp Springs is about a 20-mile drive southeast from Washington, D.C.
This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM.
