A freshman student at Delaware County's Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades was electrocuted during a Friday afternoon class at the school's power plant, the college president said yesterday.
Guy S. Gardner said Michael Savage, 18, from Sharon Hill, apparently was wiring a large lamp when he was hit by a jolt of electricity.
"We're just in a grieving process. We continue to pray for Mike's family," said Gardner, a former U.S. astronaut, who recently became the president at the junior college in Media.
Savage was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Gardner said the school was still gathering information about the accident, which happened in the early afternoon. The college also will bring in accident experts to determine the exact cause and make sure the school's accident-prevention policies are adequate.
"I understand accident investigations," said Gardner, referring to his background in the U.S. space program and as an Air Force pilot. "It's a bad policy to make early judgments."
Gardner said that other students were with Savage in the power plant, but that he didn't know how many or how close they were to him when the accident happened. He said that there were about 40 students in Savage's electrical program and that they typically would be together in the power plant.
A county emergency team was rushed to the school and began counseling students, together with the college chaplain. Additional counseling will be available tomorrow.
Gardner said there have been no other serious accidents in at least 25 years. Some faculty members said there may have been an incident in the 1950s. The school has been open for 120 years.
Savage was a graduate of Academy Park High School and played for the school's football team. Gardner said his old school team held a brief ceremony for him at the Friday-night game.
"He was a respected young man," Gardner said, "a great kid."
Contact staff writer Mark Fazlollah at 215-854-5831
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