Authorities are still investigating how electricity was allowed to pass into the water at the Lake of the Ozarks, leading to the death of two children yesterday. 13-year-old Alexandra Anderson and her 8-year-old brother, Braydon, were killed around noon while swimming near a private dock.
Highway Patrol spokesman Sergeant Paul Reinsch says, “Our investigators are still following up some interviews with some witnesses and an autopsy has been scheduled for today to determine the exact cause of death, so we’re waiting for those results and just to complete those interviews.”
One thing the Patrol is still looking into is how electricity reached the water. Reinsch says modern boat docks have power running to them for many reasons including lights, boat lifts and water pumps.
The Patrol is recommending that docks be checked by an electrician at least annually to make sure they haven’t been damaged or otherwise present an electrocution danger.
“Just the water that’s on the lake causing the dock to go up and down may cause maybe wires to come loose or whatever the situation would be. There’s just so many things that could cause problems that it would just be a really good idea to get them checked out.”
Reinsch notes, a similar incident lead to the death of a 10-year-old boy in Tennessee yesterday. In late May, three women had to be pulled from the Lake of the Ozarks and one of them was resuscitated after the water they were swimming in near a dock became electrified.
