Boy's electrocution ruled accidental

Camden Belfield died in July after touching light pole at Bartonville park

PEORIA - Insufficient ground wiring to a light pole at a Bartonville ball field is being blamed for the electrocution of an 8-year-old boy over the summer.

Camden Belfield of Waverly was playing tag with other children about 9 p.m. July 20 during a softball tournament at Oak Grove West School when he touched the wooden light pole with conduit on it. The soon-to-be third-grader collapsed and died the next day.

His death was ruled an accident by a Peoria County Coroner's jury Thursday.

An independent analysis of the pole's electrical system found a "lack of ground wiring to the system," said Bartonville Police Detective Mike Wittig, adding, "The ground wire was not connected.

"When the system failed, Camden then became the ground conductor on the failed system."

Also stated in the electrician's analysis was the lighting system was deficient from the time it was installed by volunteers in 1994.

The school district owns the property at 6018 W. Lancaster Road, which consists of several ball fields and a track. It leases the fields to the Limestone Girls Softball Association during the summer, when the association is responsible for maintenance of the field and equipment, according to the electrician's report.

Since the incident, no games have been played on the field. It will be up to the School Board on how to proceed on the use of the facilities.

Since her son's death, Annette Rees of Jacksonville has talked with state representatives about legislation requiring regular inspection of lights at outdoor fields at schools and municipalities. Right now, there is no such law in Illinois.

"I'm sure they (the volunteers) meant well," said Rees during her son's inquest. "But it was never installed up to code in the first place. If there was a law, this never would have happened.

"My only hope is that something good will come out of this."

Rees filed a lawsuit against the softball association, which she claims knew about the faulty lights at the school. It is pending in Peoria County Circuit Court.

By Leslie Fark of the Journal Star
http://www.pjstar.com/news_police/x1269205964/Boys-electrocution-ruled-accidental