Modesto man electrocuted, killed by touching MID transformer line
A Modesto man was electrocuted and killed on Tuesday afternoon when he touched the main power line of a transformer, according to officials.
Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office said that Freddie Portillo, 40, experienced a “near instant death” upon the shock of 12,000 volts of electricity from the main power line of a Modesto Irrigation District padmount transformer.
Deputies discovered Portillo on the 300 block of Beard Avenue at about 2 p.m., said Sgt. Veronica Esquivez of the Sheriff’s Office. She added that deputies speculated Portillo was trying to steal copper from the machine. However, they were unable to confirm this.
MID spokesperson Melissa Williams said there were no power outages as a result of the incident. Padmount transformers are high-voltage machines and it’s recommended that people stay at least 10 feet away from them at all times.
“We continuously promote electric safety education. Please pay attention to danger and high-voltage signage warnings and stay away from electrical equipment,” Williams stated.
Residents can report electrical issues or emergencies by calling MID at 209-526-7337.
This story was originally published December 31, 2025 at 12:26 PM.
