Tom Feane, a Syracuse University ROTC cadet, remains in critical condition after coming into contact with a fallen 34,000-volt power line Tuesday evening.

Feane, a senior political science and history major, was surveying a portion of the U.S. Marine Reserve Center’s grounds in Salina with two other cadets at approximately 6:20 p.m. Tuesday when he was shocked by the live wire.

Feane was still listed in critical condition at Upstate Medical University Hospital Wednesday at press time, said a hospital official.

The crossarm of a utility pole broke, sending the wire that was supported by the crossarm falling to where a guy wire was situated, said Sgt. John D’Eredita of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. Feane later came in contact with the charged wire, he said.

‘At this point, it’s just an unfortunate accident,’ he said.

National Grid crews were called to the scene to perform a full review Tuesday night and are continuing to investigate the incident, said Virginia Limmiatis, media relations representative at National Grid. The review has yet to be completed, she said.

David Harding, an ROTC cadet and senior American history major, said the cadets had a meeting Wednesday morning at 7:15 a.m. in front of Hendricks Chapel to discuss the incident. Physical training was canceled on Wednesday, too, Harding said.

Thomas Wolfe, senior vice president and dean of student affairs at SU, said the Division of Student Affairs is offering resources to Feane’s parents, as well as to those that have been emotionally affected by the accident. Cadets were told Feane was in the hospital, he said. Both the Counseling Center and Hendricks are offering help, he said.

Resources have also been extended to SU’s ROTC community, which has been deeply affected by the accident, Wolfe said.

‘It’s very much in the front of their mind,’ he said. ‘They’re a very close-knit group.’

egsawyer@syr.edu

dbtruong@syr.edu

Published on October 19, 2011 at 12:00 pm