Davagator
03-08-2006, 12:35 PM
A 10-year-old boy who climbed into an electrical substation through a hole in a fence was shocked by a 69,000-volt transformer and suffered third-degree burns over 80 percent of his body, fire officials said.
Larez Alexander was in critical condition Wednesday at Akron Children's Hospital, the nursing supervisor said.
Customers up to a mile and a half away briefly lost electricity after Tuesday's explosion, which set the boy's clothes ablaze and blew off at least one of his shoes, fire department Battalion Chief John Whitlatch said.
Two of the boy's brothers were outside the American Electric Power substation at the time, Whitlatch said. It was unclear why he climbed onto the transformer. "I think he was just curious," Whitlatch said.
Columbus-based AEP was investigating, spokeswoman Shelly DiMattio said.
About 12,000 volts would power a neighborhood, she said.
All AEP substations are surrounded by fences topped with barbed wire, and locked and secured, she said.
Residents near the substation heard the explosion, ran outside and saw the boy on fire, Whitlatch said. One man climbed over the fence and removed the burning clothes from the boy, who was trying to get back through the fence.
Larez Alexander was in critical condition Wednesday at Akron Children's Hospital, the nursing supervisor said.
Customers up to a mile and a half away briefly lost electricity after Tuesday's explosion, which set the boy's clothes ablaze and blew off at least one of his shoes, fire department Battalion Chief John Whitlatch said.
Two of the boy's brothers were outside the American Electric Power substation at the time, Whitlatch said. It was unclear why he climbed onto the transformer. "I think he was just curious," Whitlatch said.
Columbus-based AEP was investigating, spokeswoman Shelly DiMattio said.
About 12,000 volts would power a neighborhood, she said.
All AEP substations are surrounded by fences topped with barbed wire, and locked and secured, she said.
Residents near the substation heard the explosion, ran outside and saw the boy on fire, Whitlatch said. One man climbed over the fence and removed the burning clothes from the boy, who was trying to get back through the fence.