[chris]

Melville Braham, 55, his wife Ana, 49, and their 15-year-old son Anthony died in Palm Bay, Florida, after a 50-foot antenna they were raising in a backyard swung into an overhead power line, sending 13,000 volts through the pole the three were holding, authorities said.

The family was helping put up a second amateur radio antenna at the home of Melville Braham's mother, Barbara Tenn, in the dark on the night of Oct. 12, 2009. None of the three who died were licensed amateur radio operators. Tenn held a license and used the equipment to talk with relatives in Jamaica, according to the American Radio Relay League.

A neighbor, Jim Vallindingham, told a Central Florida television station he saw sparks and a fire flare up in the yard and dialed 911. When he ran over, he found three people on the ground. "I had no idea it was electrical until we got over there and saw the three people laying on the ground," he said.

Vallindingham called 911 a second time to report the injuries, and a dispatcher told him to stay back because the scene was still live. Rescue crews arrived to find the father and son not breathing and began trying to revive them.

Ana Braham was pronounced dead at the scene. Melville and Anthony were taken to a hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.

A 17-year-old family friend who had been on the roof during the accident and the couple's daughter, who was inside the house, were not injured.

Palm Bay Fire Marshal Mike Couture said darkness was a factor. "It happened in an instant," he said. "It is an unfortunate set of circumstances that led to the most tragic result." A Central Florida station aired the 911 calls the following day.