During another site visit — with the electric utility present to allow access to their underground cable junction enclosures — numerous readings were conducted to measure the current on both the underground electric utility energized phase conductors and the concentric neutrals. Voltage measurements were also taken from the ground system in the enclosures to a remote ground. In one particular section (right near the lake), the neutral current on the concentric neutral was less than one-tenth of an ampere, whereas the energized phase current was in excess of 6A. Obviously, the remainder of the return current was flowing through the earth and, in this case, the lake water. In addition, the voltage measured from these same junction enclosures was in excess of 7V to a remote ground test point. These measurements were a clear indication that the concentric neutrals on these underground sections were likely absent due to corrosion.

Using an assumed human body resistance of 300 ohms when immersed in fresh water — and assuming a current range through the human body where muscle control is lost in the range of 6mA to 30mA — and applying Ohm's law, the voltage necessary to cause a drowning in fresh water is in the range of 1.8V to 9V, 60 Hz AC. The above testing results show that the necessary voltage and current levels were at a level well within the range to cause the drowning and near-drowning of the victims.