Juan Arizmendi, Phillip Hylton Obituary, Death: Two killed in Pittsylvania County farm accident identified.

Juan Arizmendi, Phillip Hylton Obituary, Death – The Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the identities of two individuals who tragically lost their lives in an agricultural accident on Thursday, January 23, 2025. The victims, identified as 24-year-old Juan Arizmendi and 67-year-old Phillip Hylton, both residents of Dry Fork, Virginia, were found dead at the scene of the accident.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. when the Sheriff’s Office received a call initially reporting a structure fire in the 5000 Block of Dry Fork Road, located in the Dry Fork community. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the two men unresponsive, and despite efforts, they were pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death will be determined following an autopsy at the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Sheriff Mike Taylor shared that early evidence from the investigation points to agricultural equipment, which the men had been operating, coming into contact with high-voltage power lines. This accidental interaction with the power lines is believed to have resulted in the men being electrocuted. While the exact details are still under investigation, authorities suggest that electrocution was the likely cause of death.

The bodies of Arizmendi and Hylton have been transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for further examination, where the official cause and manner of death will be determined. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the tragic incident, and local authorities are working to determine any contributing factors.

This devastating accident highlights the potential dangers involved in agricultural work, particularly when it comes to the proximity of high-voltage power lines. As the investigation unfolds, the community remains in shock over the sudden loss of two lives in such a tragic and preventable manner. The Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, alongside the Medical Examiner’s Office, will provide more details as they become available.