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WARREN — Two children were hospitalized, one with severe injuries, after being electrocuted by a live wire Aug. 30, according to Warren police.
At approximately 9:14 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, Warren officers who were in the area of McKinley Elementary School, located at 13173 Toepfer Road, observed an 8-year-old boy being electrocuted as he held a downed and active power line, the department said in a press release.
The officers also reportedly observed that the boy’s 10-year-old brother may have also been in contact with the power line. The line was approximately 4 feet off the ground and was carrying 4,800 volts, the department said.
Officers exited their vehicle and were able to remove the boy from the power line; however, he reportedly had sustained critical injuries. The officers rushed the boy to Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit in their patrol car, the department said. He was later transported in critical condition to Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit.
As of Tuesday night, the boy’s brother remained at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit in stable condition, police said.
On Wednesday, Aug. 31, Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer said the 8-year-old had undergone surgery but remained in critical condition.
Dwyer commended the quick thinking and brave actions of the patrol officers. It took the officers less than six minutes to get the boy from the scene to the hospital, he said.
“I truly believe because of the heroic actions by the members of the Warren Police Department that pulled him off of the 4,800 (volt) live wire and conveyed him to St. John’s Moross, they saved his life,” Dwyer said.
McKinley Elementary School was closed for the day due to power outages in the area after a storm moved through the area Monday night.
Warren police and fire departments, as well as DTE Energy, responded to the scene.
Contact Staff Writer Brian Wells at (248) 291-7637 or bwells@candgnews.com.
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