Girl, 17, is electrocuted after stepping on downed power line while trying to escape her burning car after she crashed during Florida storm
- Valentina Tomashosky, 17, was driving her Dodge Avenger when she crashed into a power line that was downed by a tree during a recent storm
- The live power line set fire to Tomashosky’s car on the driver’s side, so she tried to escape from the passenger side
- But she stepped on the active line and was electrocuted
- Tomashosky, who went by the name ‘Val,’ was a senior set to graduate in June and attend Pasco-Hernando State College in the fall
- Severe weather has hit Florida over the weekend, with reports of large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes
A 17-year-old Florida girl was electrocuted when she stepped on a live power line while trying to escape her burning car after crashing during a severe storm in Florida this weekend.
Valentina Tomashosky was driving her Dodge Avenger in Spring Hill, near Tampa, when she crashed into a power line that was downed by a tree during a recent storm, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Hernando County Fire Rescue says the power line set fire to her car.
Tomashosky was driving her Dodge Avenger when she crashed into a power line that was downed by a tree during a recent storm
Tomashosky was a cadet lieutenant in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at her school and had been in ROTC for all four years of high school
Tomashosky’s car caught fire on the driver’s side, so she tried to escape from the passenger side.
But as she exited the car she stepped on the active line and was killed, ABC Action News reports
Witnesses tried to help the 17-year-old but one man was shocked as he stepped in a puddle near the car.
Even after police arrived the power was still live so they could not get out of their vehicles to help Tomashosky.
Crews had to turn off electricity in the neighborhood while they removed that wire and tree from the road.
Tomashosky, who went by the name ‘Val,’ was a senior set to graduate in June and attend Pasco-Hernando State College in the fall, according to News Channel 8.
She was also a cadet lieutenant in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at her school and had been in ROTC for all four years of high school.
Commander Christian Cruz from Central High’s NJROTC said Tomashosky was a dedicated leader.
He said: ‘Valentina was admired for her dedication to the unit but she was loved most for her joyful spirit and her ever-present smile. Her loss is deeply felt and she will be missed.’
Valentina Tomashosky, who went by the name ‘Val,’ was a senior set to graduate in June and attend Pasco-Hernando State College in the fall
Hernando County Fire Rescue says the live power line set fire to Tomashosky’s car
Central and southern Florida saw severe weather over the weekend.
The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds, hail and lightning to wide areas of the state.
Some neighborhoods near Orlando reported golf ball-sized hail, while tornadoes caused damage in the Panhandle.
Severe weather warnings were still in place across Florida on Monday.
The National Weather Service had an ‘enhanced’ risk level for residents, warning of large hail, damaging winds and a ‘tornado or two.’
Up to 20,000 Florida residents were left without power, according to USA Today.
Thousands of people were left stranded at Miami International Airport after thunderstorms resulted in more than 100 flights being canceled.
Furious passengers complained of being stuck on Sunday for up to 10 hours as they desperately tried to rebook flights out of Florida.
Some say the mass cancellations means they can’t get a new flight out of Miami until at least Wednesday or Thursday.
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