Three people died by electrocution on Wednesday after a tree branch fell onto a live power line before toppling onto their SUV, according to first responders in Portland, Oregon.

Two adults and a teenager were killed by the downed electrical wire after they attempted to leave the damaged Ford Expedition during an ice storm.

Witnesses reported seeing one of the three victims on fire.

A bystander, realizing a toddler was still inside and alive, managed to pull the child from the arms of one of the victims on the ground.

The 2-year-old child survived the incident, and was said to be receiving unspecified medical treatment.

Authorities haven’t said if the four people in the vehicle are related, but KOIN was at the scene, and reported seeing a group of people grieving together.

The downed line was shut down until crews could repair it.

Speaking to the media at the scene, fire officials urged the public to remain in their vehicles if a power line somehow touches their vehicle, noting rubber tires keep cars grounded.

The medical examiner’s office will release the identities of the victims later Thursday.

Tragic Incident in Northeast Portland

During an ice storm on Wednesday, a power line fell onto a parked SUV in northeast Portland, Oregon, killing three people and injuring a baby. The ice storm had made roads and mountain highways in the Pacific Northwest extremely hazardous. Shortly before noon, emergency dispatchers began receiving urgent calls about the downed power line and reports of electrocution, according to the city’s fire department.

Heroic Rescue Attempt

A resident, seeing the danger, bravely grabbed the baby from one of the victims lying on the street in an effort to save the child’s life. Unfortunately, the three victims, which included two adults and one teenager, were found deceased by firefighters upon arrival. The baby was promptly taken to the hospital for treatment.

Power Line Hazards and Safety Advice

Portland Fire & Rescue spokesman Rick Graves explained that the victims likely attempted to exit the vehicle after the power line fell on it, leading to their electrocution when they touched the ground while still in contact with the car. Graves emphasized the importance of staying inside a vehicle if a power line falls on it and calling 911, as the car’s rubber tires can insulate and protect against electric current. “Staying in the vehicle could have prevented this tragedy,” Graves said.

Ice Storm Chaos and Impact

The ice storm caused treacherous conditions around Portland, making driving and walking nearly impossible as ice coated roads and sidewalks. A significant portion of the region was under ice storm warnings, which later narrowed to areas including southwest Washington and northwest Oregon. The National Weather Service warned that more freezing rain could hit the area from Thursday evening into Friday morning, impacting eastern Portland and the Columbia River Gorge.

Regional Power Outages and Continuing Storm Effects

Portland transportation officials advised the public to avoid driving, and many schools, including Oregon’s largest district, remained closed due to icy roads. The fatalities on Wednesday added to the toll from the previous weekend’s storm, which included deaths from fallen trees and suspected hypothermia. As the storm continued to affect the region, power outages were widespread, with nearly 90,000 homes and businesses without electricity, primarily in Oregon.

Local and National Weather Challenges

Neighboring regions, including Vancouver, British Columbia, also faced significant disruptions from the storm, with heavy snow affecting traffic and flights. Across the U.S., cold weather strained electricity supplies, with freezing temperatures reaching as far south as Florida. The severe weather had devastating effects, with multiple deaths in western New York and Pennsylvania due to snow and icy conditions, highlighting the widespread impact of the winter storm across the country.

Community Response and Resilience

Communities responded to the storm with various measures, such as opening shelters and providing heating supplies on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. In Tennessee, extreme cold led to numerous weather-related deaths and the cancellation of classes in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The Tennessee Valley Authority reported a record peak power demand due to the frigid temperatures, emphasizing the severe and widespread impact of the winter storm.