Farm incident ends in electrocution
By Brian Walker, Ag Weekly correspondent
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 11:34 AM CDT
DEER PARK, Wash. - A 51-year-old West Plains, Wash., resident was killed Saturday morning when the grain auger he was moving came into contact with a power line.
The electrocution victim has been identified as Gregg L. Burchett, 51.
Burchett and another man were moving a metal grain auger by hand in the 8000 block of West Wild Rose Road Saturday when the machine touched a live power line. Burchett was electrocuted and pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s helper was holding a rubber tire on the auger and received only a minor shock.
A helper told Spokane County deputies he and the victim were spinning the auger around when it started to roll. The metal tube, estimated to be about 40 feet long, came into contact with a 7200-volt power line.
The victim was holding the base of the tube against his waist and was electrocuted, said Dave Reagan, Spokane County Sheriff's Department spokesman. The helper said he felt the zap of electricity, but was able to let go.
He used a wooden stick to push the victim away from the machine to break the electrical current.
Firefighters responded to the worker’s call for help, but were unable to revive the victim. He was pronounced dead at about 11:50 a.m.
A small brush fire started by the electrical contact was quickly extinguished.
The incident occurred on farm land the victim was renting.
The victim’s next of kin have been notified of his death.
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