Two men receive electrical shock
Two men were shocked while doing a home repair Friday morning in North Union Township. Donald Metz, 56, and Kenneth Purdue, 40, were working underneath a mobile home near 134 Starlite Road. Metz explained that a dryer vent, which was apparently charged with electricity, fell on his friend, shocking him.
Metz pulled the vent from Purdue and also was shocked. Purdue crawled from under the mobile home to turn off the electric breaker and called 911 for help, Metz said.
Purdue was flown by medical helicopter from George C. Marshall Elementary School to a Pittsburgh hospital but further information on his condition was not available. Metz refused medical treatment.
Tim Knabenshue, North Union Volunteer Fire Department chief, said Purdue complained of chest pains.
Allegheny Power shut off service to the mobile home shortly after the incident.
Paul Kondrla, a Fayette County deputy coroner who lives nearby, said he happened upon the scene. He explained that both men were conscious when he arrived.
“Electricity is a weird thing,” Kondrla.
He explained that someone who is shocked could suffer from internal burns.
Metz paced the yard, concerned for his friend.
“The dryer vent fell on him, and I grabbed it off of him,” Metz explained. “I wasn’t thinking. Then it (electricity) had me and let him go.”
No one else was home at the time, Metz added.