The streets of Portland were lined with frozen trees and icy sidewalks as an intense ice storm moved into the area on Wednesday morning. As residents braced for the dangerous conditions, tragedy struck in the form of a downed power line and a heroic young woman.
The scene unfolded when a large tree branch fell across a live power line, pulling it down onto an SUV in a residential neighborhood. The catastrophic event took place in a days-long bout of freezing rain that had left many in the area without power.
Initial reports from Portland Fire and Rescue indicated that three individuals had been electrocuted while making contact with the downed power line after leaving their vehicle. It was later revealed that the individuals were in fact inside the vehicle when the tree fell and the power line made contact with the SUV.
According to witnesses, the father had been loading his 9-month-old baby into the vehicle at the time of the incident. As the mother screamed for help to get the child to safety, the father slipped and made contact with the live wire, causing him to be electrocuted.
The mother rushed to assist her husband and child but also slipped and made contact with the power line. As the chaotic scene unfolded, the teenage son of the family ran towards the vehicle to aid his family but also slipped and made contact with the wire.
Amid the mayhem, 18-year-old Majiah Washington was in a nearby home and heard the commotion. Responding quickly and without hesitation, Washington ran to the scene and immediately dialed 911.
“I didn’t know what to think. It just all happened so fast.”
Majiah Washington, 18, is being hailed as a hero for putting herself in danger to help save the life of a 9-month-old baby whose family was electrocuted by a downed power line. https://t.co/wQvM81WdSl pic.twitter.com/3kVvZyuizk
— ABC News (@ABC) January 21, 2024
What Washington witnessed next was nothing short of heroic. Despite the danger of a live wire and icy conditions, she noticed that the 9-month-old baby was still alive. With an unwavering sense of bravery, Washington crawled towards the baby and managed to rescue him from the SUV. She then carefully carried the child to safety and handed him off to someone who could provide medical attention.
Officials from Portland Fire and Rescue praised Washington for her bravery and selflessness. Speaking at a press conference, spokesperson Rick Graves commended her actions, saying, “What a humble individual. Don’t we need more Majiah Washingtons out there? The scene that she was within and responded to… was very heightened – there was a lot of emotions going on and this calm individual in our community came out and made a huge difference.”
Majiah Washington, 18, risked her life to save the infant, whose mom and dad were killed after slipping on ice and touching a downed power line following a storm.https://t.co/QgAX7wRgUQ pic.twitter.com/WLn7Afl66h
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 22, 2024
While authorities have not officially identified the victims, it is believed that the teenage victim was a sophomore at a nearby high school. The entire community is devastated by this tragedy, but the heroic actions of Majiah Washington are a shining light in the midst of darkness.
