• Jesse Hamric, 18, was at a Fourth of July gathering with family and friends 
• He was found in distress in a lake and when friends jumped in they got shocked 
• Hamric was pulled out of the water but eventually died at a local hospital 

By Stephen M. Lepore For Dailymail.Com

Published: 07:02 BST, 6 July 2024 | Updated: 07:07 BST, 6 July 2024

A Colorado teenager was killed after he jumped into what may have been an electrified lake in Virginia and drowned. 

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Jesse Hamric, 18, was at a Fourth of July gathering with family and friends at Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston at a private home with a dock. 

Two of Hamric’s friends could see him in trouble in the lake and tried to jump in, only to feel an electric shock. 

Eventually, they were able to pull Hamric out of the water and perform CPR but he died at a local hospital later Thursday. 

Hamric and the two friends were all believed to have been electrocuted, according to local police. Water can become electric when faulty wiring on boats or docks releases energy into the lake. 

Jesse Hamric, 18, was at a Fourth of July gathering with family and friends at Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston at a private home with a dock. Two of Hamric’s friends could see him in trouble in the lake and tried to jump in, only to feel an electric shock

Eventually, they were able to pull Hamric out of the water and perform CPR but he died at a local hospital later Thursday

Medical Examiners are still performing an autopsy and a boat lift was near the scene of the accident, which could have malfunctioned and caused Hamric’s death as well.

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However, the water was tested and electricity was found, leading investigators to believe stray voltage from a privately owned dock was the cause, WWVA reported.

Hamric was an athlete at Steamboat Springs High School in Colorado, where Hamric’s father, Jay, is the principal, according to the Steamboat Pilot. His mother is also an elementary school teacher in town. 

Friends are saddened and already missing a beloved member of their community. 

‘Ever since I first met that kid, I mean, he’s like one of a kind,’ friend Alex Schwab told KDVR. 

‘You see him and you just, like, he always has a smile on his face.’ 

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Hamric had just graduated from the school a month ago, where he was a varsity athlete in baseball and football.

Steamboat Springs held a prayer vigil for Hamric on Friday at the local Catholic church. 

Hamric and the two friends were all believed to have been electrocuted, according to local police. Water can become electric when faulty wiring on boats or docks releases energy into the lake

Medical Examiners are still performing an autopsy and a boat lift was near the scene of the accident, which could have malfunctioned and caused Hamric’s death as well

‘Still can’t even like process it. I’m so upset by it,’ Schwab added.

The school posted a statement on its website to send out condolences in the wake of Hamric’s death. 

‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of a recent Steamboat Springs High School graduate,’ they write.

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They added that mental health counselors and crisis response professionals will be offered to the community. 

‘Please take a moment to care for yourself, lean into those around you for support, and care for each other. Our thoughts are with all of you.’

The two friends who attempted to rescue Hamric were treated for their injuries at the scene and released. 

The last five-star women’s basketball recruit to commit to Virginia Tech was Elizabeth Kitley. Could first-year coach Megan Duffy be on the path to landing the next one?

Friday, five-star Divine Bourrage from Davenport, Iowa, narrowed her list of schools to six with the Hokies making the cut ahead of her official visits this fall. Joining the Hokies in her top six are South Carolina, Baylor, Illinois, Arizona, and LSU.

According to 247Sports, she has already set up some official visits for the fall. She has scheduled visits to Arizona on Sept. 7, California on Sept. 14, Virginia Tech on Sept. 21, and LSU on Oct. 12. California is a noticeable visit that is not in ther final six and it remains to be seen if she’ll keep that visit scheduled.

Duffy is going to have her work cut out for her in recruiting Bourrage as some powerhouse programs such as South Carolina and LSU are also in the mix. Dawn Staley and Kim Mulkey generally have a ton of success recruiting, but Duffy has had some midwest recruiting success from her time at Marquette, which could come into play in recruiting Bourrage, who recently told 247Sports last month,

“I Like Virginia Tech because every time I talk to their coaches they always have great energy — especially for them to be a new staff. I like them.”

– Divine Bourrage

Duffy has already put together an impressive Class of 2025 with a pair of four stars who have already given her a commitment. Guard Katie Sears of North Carolina and Amani Jenkins from Iowa are the first two recruits for the Hokies’ new coach and Bourrage, who is the No. 5 overall player in the class according to ESPN and No. 7 according to On3, would make it a huge class with a commitment to Blacksburg.

Virginia Young Goad, 82 of Myrtle Beach, passed away on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. She is preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Goad; parents, Loss & Lessie Young; brother, Lewis Gordon Young; and half-brother, Kelly Epperly.

She is survived by daughters & sons-in-law, Regina & Allen Reed of Radford, VA, Angela & John Snider of Radford, VA, and Audrey & Timmy Caldwell of Myrtle Beach, SC; sister, Geraldine Young Jordan Hanley of Jefferson, TX; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.

Arrangements are pending.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Amedisys Home Health Care & Agape Hospice of Myrtle Beach, SC.