RUSSIA, HERKIMER CO. -- A Forestport man was electrocuted Wednesday when he came to the aid of another driver whose car had struck a utility pole.
State Police report that Nelson Leigh Jr, 32, stopped his car to see if he could help Brittany Prosser, 19, also of Forestport. Prosser's car had struck a utility pole on the west side of Wheelertown Road in the Herkimer County town of Russia.
Prosser had managed to exit her vehicle. As Leigh approached the accident scene, he apparently came into contact with one of the power lines knocked down from the utility pole as a result of the accident.
Leigh collapsed and was unresponsive. He was transported to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Utica where he was pronounced dead.
Russia is a town in Herkimer County, on the southwestern edge of the Adirondacks. It is 55 miles northeast of Syracuse.
