Winona Lake Teens 'Serious' After Electric Shock Incident
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE - Two Winona Lake teens are listed in serious condition in the burn center at St. Joseph's Hospital, Fort Wayne, following an accident Tuesday.
Police and fire crews were dispatched to 1301 Sunday Lane, Winona Lake, at 3:59 p.m. after receiving a call of an electric shock.
According to police reports, Ray Frost of Frost TV and Antennae Service had been hired to remove a television tower from the residence of Mark Cole, 52.
Cole, along with his three sons, Thomas R. Cole, 19; Jacob O. Cole, 15; and Samuel B. Cole, 17; were on the ground assisting as Frost, on the roof of the home, lowered the tower.
The tower hit power lines running along Sunday Lane, causing the Cole teens to suffer electrical shock. Their father was not injured.
Frost told police he attempted to twist the tower and shove it away so the electricity would stop flowing through it.
By the time police arrived, power to the lines was off because of a blown fuse on a utility pole at 13th and Chestnut streets.
NIPSCO received a phone call from the Winona Lake Police Department. Crews arrived at the scene to make sure the lines we de-energized.
Mike Charbonneau, manager of communications and public affairs for NIPSCO, said that when crews arrived the antennae was still in the lines.
Thomas was transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital and treated.
Jacob and Samuel were taken to KCH, then later transferred to St. Joseph's Hospital, where they currently are listed in serious condition in the burn unit.
The incident remains under investigation by the Winona Lake Police Department.
