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 (www.mtu.edu) is a leading public research university developing new technologies and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering; forest resources; computing; technology; business; economics; natural, physical and environmental sciences; arts; humanities; and social sciences.