Government to investigate electric shock of Sydney teen outside light rail construction site
TRANSPORT Minister Andrew Constance, who has apologised to a Sydney teen who almost died while walking outside a light rail construction zone, says a traffic light pit was at fault.
NSW
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TRANSPORT Minister Andrew Constance, who has apologised to a Sydney teen who almost died while walking outside a light rail construction zone, has revealed a traffic light pit was at fault.
The pit where a 15-year-old girl received an “industrial strength” electric shock was under the jurisdiction of Roads and Maritime Services, he said.
Mr Constance said the government’s road infrastructure agency would take responsibility for inspecting all traffic light pits along the light rail route after the incident.
The first major step towards discovering what led to the electrical fault comes after the government announced an independent investigation into the incident yesterday.
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“What we do know at this stage is that it is an RMS pit,” Mr Constance told reporters this morning.
“The independent investigation will try to ascertain what has led to that electrical fault — that coupled with the rain and the water on the ground has obviously led to this circumstance.
“RMS are going to take responsibility for inspecting all traffic light pits along the alignment of light rail and light rail itself will obviously undertake the inspection of pits contained within the construction zones.”
A concerned family
The mother of 15-year-old Anna Lambden, who convulsed on the ground screaming after she received an electric shock near Sydney’s light rail construction site has acknowledged receiving an apology from the transport minister.
She said she would not rest until she got answers on how the near-death experience could possibly happen.
“(Transport Minister) Andrew Constance gave me a call and he did apologise,” she said.
“I’ll just be happy when we get answers.
“I just want to know that children are safe in Sydney.”
The minister responds
Mr Constance said there will be an independent investigation into the electric shock.
He described the circumstances that led to the shocking of the Newtown High School student as “horrific” and said the government would be “cracking the whip” to find out who was responsible.
Mr Constance today said he had “made it clear” to Transport for NSW that a senior person be engaged to deal directly with Ms Lambden’s family after initial reports that no one from government contacted them in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
“I spoke to Viola (Ms Lambden’s mother) yesterday and apologised and we want to make sure we don’t see a repeat of this which is why we’ve got the inspections underway,” he said.
“It’s an RMS pit outside the light rail construction zone — it was in the footpath. Obviously something has caused an electrical fault and we’ve got to try and ascertain what that is.”
He said the investigation would be would be independent of Roads and Maritime, the Sydney Light Rail project and third party contractors.
“The advice I’ve had from the secretary of the department as of this morning is there will be an independent investigation separate from all third parties who are involved in that area,” Mr Constance said today.
“It will be handled by the secretary of the department and he will make sure it is independent of those third parties who were involved in that locale. It’s also important to note there are other suppliers into that area as well.”
Mr Constance said work would remain stopped on site until the initial investigation was undertaken.
“We’re very, very sorry to that family and what’s occurred here,” he said.
“We’re angry about this — we need to make sure what’s gone on and at the moment until we ascertain that it’s too early to lay the blame at anyone’s feet.
“We must find out who’s involved … it will be done quickly. We’ll be absolutely cracking the whip on trying to find out what’s gone on but again no party has put their hand up on who is responsible.”
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was “absolutely devastated” by the incident.
“I would have the same reaction her mother did — I think it’s appalling that it occurred and no pedestrian anywhere around a construction zone no matter what project it is or what incident it is should have to face that risk,” she said.
“What we know is we don’t want this to happen ever again.”
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