Rotting utility pole falls on teacher while she enjoyed her lunch break
A high school social studies teacher, who was adored by her family and students, tragically died last week after a utility pole fell on her during her lunch break. The family has threatened to sue the energy company who owns the pole for $130 million if their demands are not met.
31-year-old Jeunelle Robinson was reportedly walking down the street near the Wagener-Salley High School where she worked on August 23. Suddenly, a tractor-trailer struck eight power lines, which snagged onto the vehicle sending it flying into Jeunelle who didn't survive, WIS News reported.
The high school put into a soft lockdown due to the proximity of the accident. The school's website said that the lockdown was meant to limit movement within the school building.
Jeunelle Robinson, 31, was in her second year of teaching social studies at the Wagener-Salley High School in South Carolina. The school says her students loved her (Facebook)Dominion Energy, the company who owns the utility pole that killed Jeunelle, said that about 25 individuals were without power until 5pm on August 23.
“This tragedy is devastating to all of us as Ms. Robinson was in her second year teaching social studies at Wagener-Salley. Over the past year, she became friends with numerous colleagues and developed meaningful relationships with many of our students,” the Wagener-Salley school said in a statement.
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The Robinson family, represented by politician Justin Bamberg, seeks $130 million from Dominion Energy to "make things right." (6ABC)“Genuine and sweet to everyone she encountered, her time here at our school and on this earth feels much too short," NBC reported. Several law enforcement agencies, including the South Carolina Highway Patrol, are investigating the crash
The family of Jeunelle is seeking a total of $130million in compensation from Dominion Energy: $100million paid to Jeunelle's estate and $10 million for a trust for an annual scholarship in Jeunelle's name for Aiken County students going to college to become public school teachers and other public education initiatives, WIS News said.
Justin asserts that the utility pole wouldn't have gone flying across Main Street if Dominion Energy hadn't neglected it for 60 years. (WJBF)The last $20million isn't a payment to the family but the small South Carolina communities Wagener and Salley. Jeunelle's attorney has requested that Dominion Energy commit the sum to repairing the utility infrastructure within the towns. The family's attorneys assert that the energy company neglected the poles for decades, which is why the trailer truck was able to make one airborne.
Furthermore, the poles were rotted and essentially hollow on the inside. Attorneys argue that the poles wouldn't have gone flying had they been in decent condition.
The attorney continued to say how Dominion Energy put profits over the lives of their customers. Attorney Justin Bamberg, South Carolina representative, said he would sue the energy company if it refuses to adhere to the family's demands. As of now, there is no lawsuit in place and Justin says he has not yet spoken to Dominion Energy officials regarding the demands, the Augusta Chronicle reported.
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