LOCAL NEWS

Man Claims Utility is Responsible for Severe Shock at Willard Bay State Park

Oct 3, 2018, 6:46 AM | Updated: 4:47 pm

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A man who suffered an apparent severe shock at Willard Bay State Park four years ago is seeking medical costs and other damages from Rocky Mountain Power, claiming the utility is responsible for what happened.

The lawsuit filed in federal court claims the utility was negligent by failing to prevent against electrostatic discharges.

Cooper Bacon, 26, was working as a tow truck driver on July 7, 2014, when court documents state that he was injured by “stray” power voltage when he was working on a RV near the entrance to the park.

“My shoulder was on the drive shaft and my hip was touching the frame, so I basically completed a circuit,” Bacon explained Tuesday as he returned to the area for the first time since time since the mishap. “The high tension wires are the only plausible place that they’ve come up with that it could come from.”

Bacon’s lawyer, Emily Swenson, said other shocks had been noted over the years.

“People have been shocked on the credit card machine, they’ve been shocked at this gate,” Swenson said. “They know this problem exists, but they don’t do anything.”

Rocky Mountain Power spokesman Spencer Hall declined to comment on the pending litigation, but he defended the safety of the power lines and said the company complies with all regulations.

“We haven’t seen a situation like this happen, and we haven’t been able to recreate the conditions,” Hall said. “As we did our inspection and looked at the system, there was nothing out of the ordinary that needed to be changed. It already adhered to all the safety standards and we couldn’t find anything that would have caused the anomaly that was claimed.”

Swenson said she was in the process of trying to find others who may have experienced shocks at the park over the years.

The lawsuit, which also names the owners of the RV as defendants, seeks money for Bacon’s medical expenses as well as for lost wages, permanent disability and for other damages.

Bacon said the accident effectively ended his career, and he hoped his story would serve to warn others about what could happen.

“It was a great day up to that point—just a normal day in the life of a tow truck driver,” Bacon said. “I’d just hate for it to happen to anybody else.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

3 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

3 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

5 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

6 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

7 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Man Claims Utility is Responsible for Severe Shock at Willard Bay State Park