Northland Electric Employee Dies in Accident at Michigan Tech

October 14, 2006—

An employee of Northland Electric of White Pine died Saturday, Oct. 14, in an accident at Michigan Tech.

William Lehtinen, 57, of Calumet, was working on an early morning electrical project at the University. He was at the UPPCO Substation on the University campus working on a high-voltage switch when the accident happened.

Public Safety officers were called to the scene at 5:08 a.m. and attempted unsuccessfully to revive him with CPR and an automatic external defibrillator. They were assisted at the scene by Houghton City Police, Michigan State Police and Houghton Country Sheriff’s deputies, as well as Mercy Ambulance personnel.

“This is a small community and a tragedy like this saddens all of us,” said Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz. “But our hearts especially go out to his family and friends at this time of terrible loss.”

Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 60 countries around the world. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our beautiful campus in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior.