The Madison Police Department has released additional information about the electrocution tragedy on the north side of town. The three victims have been named: Lakisha Dancy, 28; her daughter Maya Reese, 2; and Demetrius Dobbs, 22; all of Madison. They were killed when trying to board a Madison Metro bus in the heavy rain late Wednesday afternoon.
As detailed in the update late Thursday morning:
It has been learned that the deceased were traveling together and were friends. An engaged couple were traveling with a mother and the mother's two children. When the heavy rain fell and the bus arrived, everyone made a dash for the bus.
As previously stated, lightning struck a utility pole, causing a live wire to lay on the ground in deep water. The seven year-old child went through the water, following Dobbs and his fiancée and received a survivable shock. The engaged couple saw the child shocked and Dobbs heroically assisted the seven year-old boy onto the bus. Dobbs saw Dancey fall into the water, with the toddler, and attempted a rescue. As Dobbs went into the water, he was electrocuted as well. The seven year-old attempted to go and save his mother, but Dobb's fiancée, who was still on the bus, pulled the seven year-old back.
The bus driver also attempted a rescue, was shocked and fell back into the bus. The bus driver secured the doors, so no one else would go into the water. The seven year-old is expected to be released from the hospital today or tomorrow. The seven year-old has an eight and twelve year-old sibling. They are being taken care of by relatives.
Persons interested in donating money to the families affected by this unexpected tragedy are urged to make their contributions to the "Bus Tragedy Fund" at any Heartland Credit Union, which operates seven locations in southern Wisconsin. These include three in Madison -- on West Washington Avenue and Willy Street downtown and at their main offices on High Crossing Boulevard on the far east side -- as well as branches in Verona, Platteville, Dodgeville, and Lancaster.
