Investigators Looking into Death of Three By Electrocution

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (AP) — Officials from several agencies are still working to determine just what caused the water in an eastern Idaho irrigation ditch to become electrified, killing three people. Bingham County Sheriff Dave Johnson says his office, state and private investigators and Idaho Power Company officials are all reviewing the deaths of 31-year-old Jacquelyn Poulson, 41-year-old Lance Hicks and 49-year-old Keith Tarpley. The three died in succession Thursday after entering an irrigation ditch containing electrified water. Johnson says a nearby irrigation pump was the source of the charge, but the reason appears to be a problem with the main flow of electricity from a nearby transformer. It's the region's second irrigation ditch electrocution in about a year. Lisa Warwick died in July 2011 when faulty pump wiring electrified irrigation water.