The family of a Columbia lineman who was shocked on a pole Monday night while responding to an outage says he’s in the burn unit at St. John’s Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.
A Gofundme has raised more than $61,000 to help lineman Kody Kile and his family. Mr. Kile’s father-in-law, First State Community Bank president Joe Miller, is asking for prayers for Mr. Kile as well as for Kile’s wife and their three children. Mr. Miller tells 939 the Eagle that Kody Kile suffered some severe injuries and has a long road of recovery ahead. Mr. Miller says Kody Kile is like a son to him and that the family will be facing many medical expenses. The gofundme notes Kody Kile will undergo multiple surgeries.
City of Columbia Utilities spokesman Jason West tells 939 the Eagle a pair of linemen were injured Monday night. West says they were part of a crew replacing a transformer on a pole when one of them suffered an electric shock. Mr. West says the crew took immediate action, lowering their co-worker to the ground and using an AED until paramedics arrived on-scene. The second lineman was injured while lowering Kile.
Mr. West says Columbia Utilities is thankful to the crew and first responders on-scene.
