Short Circuit From Football Field Light Caused Shock That Killed Boy

AUGUSTA TWP. (WWJ/AP) - Investigators say a missing ground line and short circuit from a field light caused the death of a 13-year-old boy who was shocked at a school football game near Ann Arbor.

School district officials announced the findings Thursday, saying investigators determined that a ground line between two light posts on the Lincoln High School football field didn't connect to the circuit breaker, and the electricity traveled to the fence instead.

Lincoln Middle School student Christian Lorinczy was shocked Sept. 30 after he fell backward into the electrified fence near the bleachers while playing catch with his friends. He died three days later.

Randy Trent, Washtenaw Intermediate School District operations director, said electricians will examine the light post to figure out exactly what caused the problem. He said it appears no one tampered with the school's electrical panels.

Superintendent Ellen Bonter said the district plans on implementing a new preventative maintenance schedule to prevent an accident like this from happening in the future.

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