THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 13, 1996 TAG: 9606130354
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Metro Briefs
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 25 lines
Ronald L. Pena, the 33-year-old construction worker who was badly burned after a scaffolding touched an overhead electrical line Monday at Rock Church, died Tuesday night, police said.
Pena, of the 4900 block of Olive Grove Circle, died about 7 p.m. in the Burn/Trauma Unit at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. He was working for Tidewater Plastering at the church at 640 Kempsville Road when the accident occurred, about 7:30 a.m.
The scaffolding touched an overhead electrical line carrying about 7,600 volts. The electricity surged down the scaffolding and onto a trailer where Pena was standing, knocking him to the ground.
Pena had been standing on the trailer that moves the scaffolding and was helping guide a van driver who was towing the trailer. After Pena was knocked down, the driver, apparently unaware that Pena was on the ground, backed away from the lines to free the scaffolding and backed over Pena. Pena was trapped under the trailer and had to be freed by rescue workers.
KEYWORDS: FATALITY ELECTROCUTION ACCIDENT GENERAL by CNB