Friday, January 29, 1999
Student killed after landing on utility pole
Guard was chasing teen
BY WILLIAM WEATHERS and PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
An 18-year-old Woodward High School student was fatally injured Thursday afternoon near the high school's Bond Hill campus when he struck a utility pole while apparently fleeing from a school security guard.
The student, Andre Jones, of the 1700 block of Lawn Avenue, Bond Hill, was pronounced dead at University Hospital at 1:52 p.m., a nursing supervisor said.
The incident happened while school was in session — about 12:50 p.m. at 7030 Glen Meadow Lane in Roselawn — near the rear of Woodward, police said.
Cincinnati Public Schools spokeswoman Eileen Houston-Stewart said a group of students was near the tennis courts on the school campus shortly before they jumped the fence. The victim struck a utility pole that was sticking out of the ground about 4 feet, she said.
“It's a tragic situation and we feel for the parents,” Ms. Houston-Stewart said. The district will send counselors to Woodward today for staff members and on Monday for grieving students. Thursday was an exam day and there is no school today.
A staff member who had just walked out of the school building called 911, Ms. Houston-Stewart said. It was not clear why the student was at the rear of the school property or why he would try to jump a fence, she said. School was in session until 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
School district officials are cooperating with Cincinnati police and are conducting their own investigation. The accident happened behind the school and down a steep embankment next to the school tennis courts.
The location, just off school property near the Glen Meadow apartment complex, is a popular hiding spot for students, said Jeffery Jones, whose yard the student landed in. Mr. Jones, who is not related to the victim, was not home at the time of the accident.
Cincinnati Firefighter Vernon Simpson, who responded to the injury call, said the victim was lying on the ground unconscious with no pulse when rescuers arrived. Fire personnel administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and transported him to the hospital.
A security guard told fire officials that the victim was among a group of young men who “started to run” when he approached, Firefighter Simpson said.
Many Woodward students and staff didn't know about the incident before leaving for the day. Kassidy Lillard, 14, a freshman at Woodward who stayed after school for a basketball game, said students were shocked to hear of the accident.
Investigators from the Cincinnati Police Division's homicide unit are investigating. Anyone with information is urged to call 352-3040.
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