Youth Electrocuted On Utility Pole-September 7, 1976

A 17-year-old Norwood resident tragically lost his life Sunday night after being fatally electrocuted when he came into contact with high-voltage lines atop a utility pole on Sumner Street.

Investigation and Fatal Accident Details

According to Norwood police reports, William Pezwick of 329 Sumner Street had climbed approximately 38 feet up a utility pole located near 120 Sumner Street—close to the Sumner Street entrance of the Raytheon Co. plant and roughly one mile from his home—shortly before 9:30 p.m.

Investigators stated that Pezwick climbed the structure apparently attempting to retrieve a bicycle that had been hung from the bottom spike of the pole. Continuing his ascent to the top, his head came into direct contact with an active switch box. Simultaneously, while his head touched the switch, he grabbed an aluminum support bracket holding the pole’s street light, completing the circuit and becoming grounded. The intense shock from 8,000 volts and 250 amps of electricity caused Pezwick’s body to plummet to the pavement below while two or three companions looked on in horror.

Initial emergency dispatches to the police department erroneously reported that a pedestrian had been struck by a motor vehicle. Upon arriving at the scene, responding officers instead discovered Pezwick’s body lying in the street. Emergency personnel rushed the youth to Norwood Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival 25 minutes after the incident.

Biography and Funeral Arrangements

Born in Norwood, William Pezwick was a graduate of the Norwood High School Class of 1976 and a second-class Boy Scout in Norwood’s Troop 42.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Nellie M. (Svelnis) Pezwick; two brothers, Paul Pezwick and Steven Pezwick; two sisters, Jean Pezwick and Marianne Pezwick, all of Norwood; and his grandmothers, Mrs. Antonina Piedzeicz of East Walpole and Mrs. Mary A. Svelnis of Needham.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. the following morning at St. George’s Lithuanian Church, with burial to follow in Highland Cemetery. Visiting hours were scheduled at the Paul H. Kraw Funeral Home, located at 1246 Washington Street. The family requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the William Pezwick Scholarship Fund, established in care of The Norwood Co-operative Bank.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger