Utility worker killed during school 'egg drop'

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Story Published: May 31, 2007 at 5:55 PM PDT

By Associated Press

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OTHELLO, Wash. (AP) - A utility truck's aerial bucket collapsed during a school demonstration Thursday, killing a utility company employee and injuring a grade school teacher as about 600 students watched.

The pair had been lifted 20 to 30 feet in the air when the boom separated from its base and fell, Police Chief Steve Dunnagan said in a news release. They were thrown from the bucket when it hit the ground outside Hiawatha Elementary School.

The dead man, an employee of Avista Utilities, was identified as Bob Smith, 50, of Othello, who suffered apparent head injuries.

The teacher, Melissa Martinez, was hospitalized for treatment of what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.

The pair were participating in an annual "egg drop" science demonstration when the accident occurred about 1:47 p.m. The demonstration involves protecting eggs in various containers and dropping them from a certain height, seeing which land intact.

In addition to hundreds of children, from kindergarten through sixth grade, staff members and some parents were watching, said George Juarez, Othello School District superintendent. He said the children were "a good distance away."

Avista spokeswoman Jessie Wuerst said the company would investigate the cause of the accident. The state Department of Labor and Industries also was called in to investigate, Dunnagan said.

Wuerst did not immediately know how many Avista employees were at the scene at the time of the accident, but said it is common for company workers to assist in such community events.

Counselors were called to assist children and staff members and were to be on hand Friday as well, Juarez said.

Othello is located in central Washington about 40 miles north of Richland.

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