David Macanally, Eyewitness News
Muncie, August 8, 2002 - The family of a Ball State student who died from a power line shock has filed a lawsuit. Thomas and Lauren Weidner claim American Electric Power did not repair downed power lines after a storm.
The Weidner’s son, 20-year-old Andrew, was mowing a lawn when he ran over a downed line in Muncie.
Andy Weidner was unconscious and in the few minutes after a call to 9-1-1, two more people would be seriously injured. They were the rescuers trying to help Andy, who eventually died.
Eyewitness News obtained a tape of that 9-1-1 call.
9-1-1: "Electrocution. Have E-M-T and police officer down."
Muncie Police Sergeant Linda Cook was badly burned and a medic was hurt, too. They were all shocked by a downed power line they couldn't see, hidden in the brush and branches.
9-1-1: "What's your emergency?"
Could an earlier 9-1-1 call, made a full day before this accident, have saved Andy Weidner's life.?
Witness: "I noticed two white flashes and two big pops."
She and other neighbors called A-E-P, the power company, right after the line snapped in a storm. Another man called 9-1-1. A transcript of that call reveals somebody knew there was a line down.
Caller: "...live wire snapping in the backyard."
9-1-1: "Is it sparking?"
Caller: "I can hear it. I can't see it."
9-1-1 faxed and called A-E-P about the line, but 20 hours later, the line was still hot when Andy Weidner came close with his lawnmower.
Lawyer James Schafer represents Sergeant Cook, who is also suing A-E-P. Schaefer says, just hours before the accident, a woman with A-E-P and a neighbor even checked for the break.
Schafer: "She did walk one way, according to him, but would not walk the other way. Even though (the neighbor) asked her to." Schafer told Eyewitness News the downed line was in the direction that the A-E-P representative elected not to walk.
