Big TV crushes boy to death

[question everything]

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Big TV crushes boy to death

The 200-pound set falls on the 6-year-old inside an apartment in Placentia.

By JOHN McDONALD
The Orange County Register

PLACENTIA – A 6-year-old boy was killed today when a 200-pound television set and dresser fell on him, officials said.

Paramedics were called to an apartment in the 700 block of West La Jolla Street at about 12:15 p.m. with a call for medical assistance. They found a woman at the door screaming in Spanish. The rescue workers found the child inside and began first-aid, then took him to Placentia Linda Hospital in Placentia, where he was pronounced dead, police detective Corrine Loomis said.

There were two adults in the apartment at the time, neither related to the child. There were seven children in the apartment, and the dead boy was the oldest, police said.

The television weighed an estimated 200 pounds, and the dresser, which is 3 feet wide by about 30 inches tall, weighed about 40 pounds, police said.

http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/08/18/sections/breaking_news/article_639769.php

[kiraboo]

1. Not to be grossly insensitive, but that's like something from

a Rouald Dahl tale. Poor little muffin.

[mike_c]

2. a 200 pound television?!

Good lord! That TV must have been HUGE!

[TheDebbieDee]

6. A 200 pound television setting on a 40 pound stand......

[Demonaut]

9. 36" flat tubes get that heavy, Sony made a 40" tube that pushed 300lbs

thats why Sony has safety straps attached to most of their stands

[karlrschneider]

3. Sadly, it's not that uncommon for tots to be killed by furniture falling

or tipping over. One of our local TV stations did a piece on it not long ago after a dresser (if I recall right...anyway some large wooden apparatus) fell on a tyke and killed him. Apparently he pulled out a drawer and tried to climb up using it as a step and it came down on him.

[Pithlet]

7. Sadly, it isn't.

People need to be more aware of that danger and know to anchor top heavy furniture like that to the wall. That can be hard to do for apartment dwellers. Poor little guy :(

[growlypants]

4. here's the problem right here:

"The television weighed an estimated 200 pounds, and the dresser, which is 3 feet wide by about 30 inches tall, weighed about 40 pounds, police said."

Um.......

[jayctravis]

5. Sounds like a case of unfortunate logistics.

A huge 200 pound TV on a high 40 pound dresser. Top heavy.

I know a lot of people who will spend a fortune on a TV and then put it on the equivalent of a microwave cart. The supporting furniture is just as important as your electronics.

[Arugula Latte]

8. Oh god how awful.

Stuff like that happens too easily. It's the parents' nightmare. That kind of scenario keeps me awake at night sometimes.