From Deseret News archives:

Boy improving after being shocked

Published: Sunday, June 1, 2008 12:15 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
VERNAL — The condition of an 8-year-old boy who was nearly killed last week when he came in contact with an electrified piece of conduit at a Uintah County baseball complex is improving.

Kalob Dudley was upgraded from critical to serious condition, according to Primary Children's Medical Center spokeswoman Bonnie Midget.

Vernal Police Chief Gary Jensen said Dudley was apparently trying to climb a chain-link fence Tuesday night that borders a baseball field, using a nearby light pole for leverage.

"We've all done it as kids, where you have a narrow space and you can put your back against one surface and start shinnying your way up," Jensen told the Deseret News. "It sounds like that's what he was trying to do was just get a better look over the fence at the game going on."

Bobby Oostveen, one of three electricians who plays softball on a team sponsored by his employer, was on an adjoining field when he heard screaming. He said he ran toward the noise and saw another softball player knock the boy free from the fence and the conduit.

"The kid was still being electrocuted," Oostveen said. "He was blue when people got to him."

He said a second softball player, scaling the chain-link fence to reach the boy, also came in contact with the conduit while still on the fence.

Story continues below
"He actually got knocked unconscious," Oostveen said of the second player. "I saw him come over the fence and he landed on his face completely unconscious."

No information was available on the condition of the injured player.

It was also unclear how long the boy was in contact with the live conduit, but Oostveen said it could have been at least five minutes.

Oostveen said a test of the power after the field had been cleared showed the conduit was carrying 320 volts.

"A normal house outlet runs 120 volts. The big lights in big shops run 277 (volts)," he said. "That one being 320 volts is kind of a big deal. It's a lot of power, especially for as long as he was on there."

CPR was performed at the scene before Dudley was taken to Ashley Regional Medical Center by ambulance. He was then flown to Primary Children's Medical Center.

Dan Rodgerson, director of the Uintah Parks and Recreation District, which operates the baseball complex, said Dudley was at the park attending his father's softball game. He said power was immediately shut off to the field after the incident and crews are working with police to determine how the conduit became energized.

"There's nothing immediately visible as to how or why this was caused, but we're diving into this to try to figure out what happened," Rodgerson said.


E-mail: geoff@ubstandard.com

Recent comments

My thoughts and prayers are with this little boy and his family, and...

Jennifer | June 1, 2008 at 4:45 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Sounds like a good option if you can't or won't switch to AT&T for the...

I worked with and around Bill Sederburg for 5 years while he was at...

Price injured; Miles has cast removed

hand. He needs to work on his moves to the basket and rebounding. Lateral...

Jazz blow big lead, hang on

play Fez or Koufos tonight. He went with a smaller line up and Boozer, Okur...

I've met Bennett before and he is a nice man. He also knows the Constitution...

Thousands protest health bill

That's never been a secret. Everyone will pay for it except those that don't...

What exactly were Nephite interpreters?

I agree with NonMormon. I am active LDS, and I enjoy Ash's articles, and I...

I kept saying don't resign Milsap, especially after Portland offered that...

U. hopes to keep clicking

BYU is the slowest team that has ever been in the top 25. Utah will put up a...

NFL: Midseason grades

i think u have the cowboys ranked too low! at least an A- LOL nice work!

Advertisements
Advertisement