Othello In Shock Over School Demonstration Death

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Story Published: Jun 1, 2007 at 4:36 PM PDT

By Molly Kelleher

OTHELLO - Bob Smith fell to his death Thursday during an egg drop demonstration at Hiawatha Elementary School. The utility worker was up 30 feet on a boom with a teacher, then something went wrong.

Washington Labor and Industries is now part of the investigation. Action News is learning more about the man who died and from the shocked kids who looked on in horror.

"Everybody was screaming crying so sad some started running," said 4th grader Abel Castro.

Kids in Othello are still in shock. Abel and his sister Jennifer were out with hundreds of kids who watched it all go down.

"You could still see the body I was scared, " said Jennifer Castro.

"It looked just like it cracked from the bottom tipped over," said Maria Fox.

A fifth grade teacher was injured in the fall and taken to a Spokane Deaconess Hospital.

"It's a sad thing when this happens in a community so small."

Bob Smith was a real company man in his 50 years, he spent 20 of those on the job for Avista. The company released this statement Friday: "Bob was deeply involved in many community activities and he especially loved those that brought joy and excitement to children."

"He was nice family guy liked being out with his dog. It's just really sad," said Smith's neighbor Vanessa Silva.

A memorial fund has been set up for Bob Smith:

Avista Corp. Credit Union
P.O Box 3727
Spokane, WA 99220-3727.

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