Photo: Facebook
Friends are speaking out after a high school baseball coach and his wife died over the weekend while working to repair the Florida school’s baseball field, which remained damaged months afterHurricane Michaeldevastated the region.
On Sunday, Corey Crum, 39, his wife Shana, 41, and their 14-year-old son Chase joined a group of volunteers at Liberty County High School’s baseball field in Bristol, according to a statement shared on Facebook from theLiberty County Sheriff’s office.
While the coach was operating a boom lift in order to unload equipment, the boom “made contact with overhead power lines,” which resulted in him being electrocuted, according to the statement. Shana and the couple’s son were also electrocuted while trying to help.
Liberty County School Board member Kyle Peddle told theTallahassee Democratthat the group was putting up a scoreboard at the time of their tragic deaths.
Police received a call regarding “emergency assistance” at 12:45 p.m. local time, according to the police statement. Both Corey and his wife were pronounced dead on the scene, and the couple’s son, who is expected to recover from his injuries, was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
“This is a tragic event which has rocked our community to its core,” the statement concluded. “We ask for prayers and respect for the family, students and parents involved.”
In a statement, Stacie Fant, a close friend of the Crums, revealed that her son was also present alongside the couple’s teenage son.
“I don’t know if our boys will ever unsee what they saw, ever,” she said, according toCNN.
Detailing the community response to Corey’s death, Liberty County Superintendent David Summers toldWJHGthat “all of our hearts are broken.”
“All of our hearts are broken because of the impact that he had on us. Just an honest type person, that’s who Corey was,” he said. “For about four or five hours after it happened there was well over 100 folks at the baseball field. We hugged each other and just tried to encourage each other that we will get through this.”
Liberty County High School did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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At least36 people were killedas a result of Hurricane Michael, CNN previously reported. The Category 4 storm hit seven states, reaching north from Florida and into Virginia. Hardest hit was the Florida Panhandle, where homes were splintered and lives upended.
AGoFundMehas been created to help pay for funeral expenses for the Crums, as well as hospital expenses for their son.
Afuneral is being heldfor Corey and Shana at the Civil Center in Bristol on March 15 at 11:00 a.m. local time.
source: people.com
