The girlfriend and the estate of a man who died after coming into contact with a downed power line last year in Centre County filed a lawsuit on Friday accusing a power company of negligence.
The lawsuit alleges that West Penn Power and its parent company FirstEnergy “negligently installed and/or maintained utility poles, power lines, protective devices and related electrical equipment,” leading to the death of 23-year-old Gelin Tong.
A storm downed a tree and power lines along the 200 block of Water Street in Ferguson Township at about 3:52 p.m. on March 16, 2025. Sixteen minutes later, Tong, an international student who had recently graduated from Penn State, was driving with his girlfriend, Xianwen Zhag, when they encountered a line of cars stopped because of a large downed tree.
Because they believed their electric vehicle lacked sufficient battery power to take an alternate route to State College, they remained stopped behind the downed tree for an hour and a 45 minutes before calling 911 for an update on when it might be removed. Told there was no estimated time of removal and that they should call someone to pick them up, Tong parked the car on the side of the road and called a friend who agreed to get them, according to the lawsut.
Tong exited the vehicle and led Zhag through a wooded path to get around the downed tree so they could meet their ride.
At 6:40 p.m., Tong came into contact with a power line that was not visible to him because it was suspended in the air above the path, according to the lawsuit. He fell to the ground screaming, then his body caught fire, attorney George Zindel wrote.
Emergency services were called to the scene but could not intervene for more than an hour until West Penn Power de-energized the line, Zindel wrote. Zhag, who was about 4 feet behind Tong when he was electrocuted, was instructed to remain where she was to avoid being electrocuted herself until she was eventually led to safety.
The lawsuit alleges that the power company failed to properly inspect and maintain the power lines and equipment, and failed to coordinate protective equipment to promptly de-energize lines when they fell, specifically when they remained in contact with wet vegetation for three hours.
Gong’s estate is suing the companies for negligence under the Wrongful Death Act and Survival Act and is seeking an unspecified amount in excess of $50,000. Gong’s mother and father are listed as the beneficiaries.
Zhag is suing for negligent infliction of emotional distress and is also seeking an amount in excess of $50,000. According to the filing, Zhag has suffered emotional trauma and psychological injury manifesting in sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, nightmares and shortness of breath.
The lawsuit is the second against FirstEnergy and West Penn stemming from an electrocution death in Centre County last year.
The parents of Bryce Lowman filed a lawsuit in November. Lowman, 22, died after coming in contact with an energized guy-wire while attempting to put out a mulch fire outside of the State College hotel where he worked following a storm on April 29.
That case is still pending in Centre County Court.
