The reporter saw that Chen Peiyu's death certificate read "death from electric shock injuries."
Fan Jinguo, a lawyer at Hubei Shouyi Law Firm, believed that if the electrocution was determined to be caused by wiring issues, compensation could be sought from the units responsible for installation and maintenance of the lines.
The power supply department stated that after the incident, they investigated and found that the wiring outside the electricity meter was intact. As for the wiring inside the meter, it did not fall under the responsibility of the power supply department. To eliminate the fault, relevant procedures must be handled by the police or other relevant departments before the power supply department can intervene.
Chen Shuiying opened the door and shouted loudly for help. The neighborhood security arrived and turned off the main power switch for the unit building, which eliminated the electricity in the bathroom. The quickly arriving 120 emergency medical personnel administered first aid, but Chen Peiyu had already stopped breathing.
Chen Shuiying, the girl’s grandmother, cried as she recounted that on the night of the incident, her granddaughter Chen Peiyu went to take a shower in the bathroom while she and the child’s aunt, Liu Min, were watching TV in the room. Suddenly, a thud was heard from the bathroom. Liu Min opened the door and found Chen Peiyu lying on the ground.
"Who is at fault for my daughter's death?" Yesterday, Chen's mother, Liu Fang, was overwhelmed with grief over the loss of her beloved daughter. A surnamed Zhang, the head of the property management company, said that since the property management does not collect residents' electricity fees, the power supply department should be responsible for resolving electrical faults.
"I got electrocuted, go turn off the switch!" At around 11:30 PM the previous evening, a 15-year-old girl in Hankou's Rushourili residential area was unfortunately electrocuted while using a gas water heater to take a shower. After the family pulled the home's circuit breaker, there was still leakage current in the bathroom. Only after the neighborhood security turned off the main power switch for the entire unit building did the leakage disappear. Unfortunately, the girl passed away, leading the family to suspect that someone stealing electricity caused the building's wiring to leak current. Currently, relevant departments are investigating the cause of the accident.
◇ Lawyer's Opinion
It was reported that the police have begun investigations within the residential area.
Chen Shuiying said that since 2006, the family had noticed that the showerhead occasionally gave an electric shock. She mentioned that the family used a voltage tester and detected a leakage current. They reported this issue to both the property management and the power supply department, who also sent people to inspect the problem, but no resolution was reached.
"I rarely interfered in her affairs." Liu Fang said that her daughter was very sensible and would call ahead even if she was just one minute late coming home.
"I got electrocuted, go turn off the switch!" Chen Peiyu let out a faint cry for help. Liu Min quickly ran to the door and pulled the circuit breaker, then tried to pull Chen Peiyu but was herself paralyzed by the electric current and fell to the ground.
A surnamed Zhang, the head of the property management company, said that they had indeed received complaints in the past. The power supply department suspected someone was stealing electricity, but due to insufficient evidence and inability to enter residents' homes without permission, they had to abandon the investigation.
Last night, Zhang Guozhen, a lawyer at Hubei Zhongsan Law Firm, believed that the police and power supply department should conduct detailed investigations into the matter. If it is confirmed that someone was stealing electricity and the thief is identified, the thief should bear responsibility. If the thief cannot be identified, the relevant households within the unit building should share responsibility.
Both lawyers believed that residents had previously reported the leakage current issues to the property management and power departments, yet the faults were not resolved. Therefore, the relevant departments also bear some responsibility.
The责任人should assume responsibility.
Multiple instances of leakage current had been reported.