The condition of the ROTC cadet who was hospitalized after getting shocked Tuesday has improved from critical to fair during the weekend.

Tom Feane, a senior political science and history major, was surveying a portion of the U.S. Marine Reserve Center’s grounds in Salina with two other cadets Tuesday evening when he came in contact with a 34,000-volt live power line and was shocked.

Feane was still listed in fair condition at Upstate Medical University Hospital on Sunday at press time, said a hospital official.

The crossarm of a utility pole broke, sending a wire that was supported by the crossarm falling to where a guy wire was situated, said Sgt. John D’Eredita of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. Feane later came in contact with the charged wire, he said.

National Grid crews were called to the scene to perform a full review Tuesday night and are continuing to investigate the incident, said Virginia Limmiatis, media relations representative at National Grid. The review has yet to be completed, she said.

Thomas Wolfe, senior vice president and dean of student affairs at SU, said the Division of Student Affairs will continue offering resources to Feane’s parents and to those who have been emotionally affected by the accident. Both the Counseling Center and Hendricks Chapel are offering help, he said.

Resources have also been extended to SU’s ROTC community, which has been deeply affected by the accident, Wolfe said.

Wolfe said that he and Chancellor Nancy Cantor have personally visited Feane and his family at the hospital.

Said Wolfe: ‘There have been a lot of contact points.’

egsawyer@syr.edu 

Published on October 23, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Liz: egsawyer@syr.edu | @3sawyer