Father, 27, Dies After Coming into Contact with Live Power Lines During Storm
A 27-year-old father from Indiana has died after he came into contact with power lines that were brought down in a storm, authorities said.
On Wednesday, April 2, Nathan Merritt was driving his pickup truck when he struck downed power lines that were blocking the roadway in his hometown of Danville amid a storm, the Hendricks County Sheriff's Office said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
When Merritt got out of his truck, he 'came into contact with the live power lines,' according to the sheriff's office.
When deputies arrived at the scene after 9:30 p.m. local time, they found Merritt's Dodge truck on fire. Merritt was discovered on the ground near the truck, but officials were not able to approach him until the power company shut off the power.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation into his death is ongoing, according to the sheriff's office.
Related: At Least 6 Dead as Tornadoes Barrel Through U.S. and People Brace for 'Catastrophic' Flooding
Related: Mich. Firefighter Dead from Fallen Power Line as Thousands Are Without Power amid Winter Storm
The young father, who was a sound and production director for Warrior Pro Wrestling, is reported to be at least one of seven known people who have died as severe weather has devastated cities and towns across the U.S., from the Midwest to the mid-South this week, according to NBC News.
For some states, the dangerous weather is expected to continue into the weekend. The National Weather Service issued a warning for Friday, April 4, through Sunday, April 6, of a 'life-threatening, catastrophic, and potentially historic flash flood event' that will continue to hit the Lower Ohio Valley and Mid-South to the Lower Mississippi Valley.
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Meanwhile, Warrior Pro Wrestling is mourning Merritt's untimely death.
'Our WPW family will miss his smile, excitement, and dedication to not just our show but to independent wrestling across the state,' Merritt's employer wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday, April 3. 'Prayers are with his son Tatum and the entire Merritt family.'
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