Fatality in Lee County

December 19, 2012

At approximately 5:30 PM Tuesday night, Lee County authorities received a 911 call to a man down that had possibly fallen on Lee Road 2071 in Salem. Upon arrival by Lee County deputies and EAMC EMS, they discovered 37 year old Richard Steven Dixon, of Phenix City, with no signs of life. Lee County Coroner Bill Harris pronounced Dixon dead at the scene at 5:45 PM. It is unclear at this time as to exactly what happened. Dixon was reportedly doing some electrical work at the residence. The owner of the residence had dropped Dixon off earlier and when he returned, found Dixon lying on the ground at the base of a ladder that was leaning against a power utility pole. No foul play is suspected, but it is unclear at this time whether Dixon just fell from the ladder, or came into contact with the power line on the pole. According to Alabama Power Company officials, there was power to the pole, but not to the transformer and residence. Dixon’s body has been taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences medical examiner’s office in Montgomery to determine the cause of death. Preliminary results could be known as early as Thursday. The case remains under investigation by the Lee County Coroner, Lee County Sheriff’s office, Alabama Dept. of Forensic Sciences and Alabama Power Investigative Division