Raymond Puckett, 29, was electrocuted at Lewistown Sunday night when he came in contact with a 2,300-volt wire of the Central Illinois Public Service company which was broken from a pole during a heavy wind storm. The accident occurred about 7:15 o’clock when Puckett, in company with his brother Alfred, was viewing damage done by the storm.
Coming upon a tree in their path, which had been blown down and carried the high tension wire from a pole, Puckett is said to have reached for the live wire, supposedly in an attempt to clear the sidewalk. He was knocked to the ground by the high voltage and is thought to have been instantly killed.
Dr. C. N. McCumber was summoned and with C. T. Johnson, plant manager and Bud Wallace, an employee of the C.I.P.S., artificial respiration was used for more than four hours in an effort to resuscitate Puckett. A call was made to the Canton fire department for a pulmotor which arrived about 8:30 o’clock. Puckett was apparently lifeless when Assistant Fire Chief Rueben Griggs arrived with the machine, although repeated attempts were made until 11 o’clock to revive the man.
It was the opinion of C.I.P.S. officials that had artificial respiration been rendered immediately after the accident had occurred Puckett’s life might have been saved. Fully 15 minutes had elapsed before the manager of the local plant was notified and arrived at the scene of the accident, it is said.
Puckett is thought to have attempted to clear the debris from the walk and to have grabbed the high tension wire with his left hand as the hand was badly burned.
Puckett is survived by his wife and two small sons. He is also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Puckett and a brother Alfred, all of whom reside in Lewistown.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus