Children electrocuted and burned by downed CenterPoint power line

Parents of a 3-year old boy and 5-year old girl are reeling from a weekend incident that sent both of their kids to hospital with severe burns. The children were playing in their back yard at around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday when a loose guide wire came into contact with a live wire, shocking the little boy and girl. The children's uncle Cecil Davis told reporters for Channel 2 News that the little boy lost the end of his finger in the incident, and the little girl a piece of a toe. Both children suffered second degree burns and were transported to Shriner's Children's Hospital in Galveston. Relatives of the children say the girl was burned over 30 percent of her body and the little boy was burned from his waist down. Cecil Davis said the children's father reported the downed guide wire about two weeks ago, and reportedly was told that it wasn't a problem because it was just a guide cable. Officials from CenterPoint Energy visited the home after the incident. A statement from CenterPoint Energy said that after making the scene safe, CenterPoint began an investigation to determine what happened, which will include reviewing phone records to determine the call history on the account. The home is in the 3200 block of Nutwood Lane in Spring, Texas.

I'm sure these poor children's parents are beside themselves. I actually have a CenterPoint power line that runs behind my home, and my children play in the back yard daily, including on a trampoline that is right below the power line. If it is indeed the case that the detached guide wire was reported to CenterPoint two weeks prior to this incident, and the homeowners were told that the loose wire posed no danger, in my opinion it will be very difficult for CenterPoint to avoid liability because the children's parents were told there was no cause for concern. Hopefully the children will make a full recovery from their injuries. CenterPoint Energy's web site provides advice to the public on dealing with downed power lines after a storm, and specifically states that all downed power lines should be treated as if they are energized.

If you have been injured by a dangerous condition on a premises, I would be glad to explain Texas premises liability to you through a no-charge consultation, either in-person or by phone. Premises liability in Texas is not straightforward, and the facts the injured person is required to prove in a premises case are usually a surprise to people: it is always tougher than they think. I am board certified in personal injury trial law and have successfully resolved many premises liability claims for clients, including those involving severe, life-changing injuries. 

A loose guide wire came into contact with a live wire

The children's uncle Cecil Davis updates
the media on the children's condition.