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After electrocution, Oklahoma City officials find posts not grounded

Posted at 11:28 AM, Oct 03, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-03 12:28:25-04

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Officials say inspections conducted following the electrocution of a man who fell into a canal in Oklahoma City's downtown entertainment district reveal that lamp posts along the canal are not grounded.

City Parks Director Doug Kupper told The Oklahoman that the posts were installed in 1998 according to electric codes at the time, but that those codes are now outdated.

Enforcement codes today often require a system that directs a stray current back to ground before a loose wire connection causes a shock.

Twenty-three-year-old Wesley Seeley of Tuttle was killed Sunday when he fell into the canal and then grabbed one of the posts to try and pull himself out.

Another man who jumped in to help Seeley, identified as 31-year-old Brandon Gann of Crawford County, Arkansas, was shocked and remains in critical condition.

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