Teachers Save 12 Children From Live Power Lines

OAK CREEK, WI -- Authorities in Oak Creek say quick thinking by parents prevented a group of children from being harmed by a downed power line.

According to Oak Creek police call logs, a group of children were playing on the playground at Grace Lutheran Church, 3381 E. Puetz Road when teachers overseeing the children heard a loud crack.

Call logs state that the teachers witnessed a large willow tree topple over in a sudden gust of high wind. The tree cracked as it was uprooted, and fell directly onto a power transformer. The power transformer was shattered, and power lines fell down, encompassing the playground where 12 children had been happily playing, witnesses said.

According to police, one live wire fell between two children. The teachers acted quickly to collect all of the children, and move them safely to a shed and out of harm's way before being evacuated by the Oak Creek fire department.

Remarkably, nobody was injured. One officer who was investigating the incident reported locating a burn mark to the north side of the building where the power line was affixed.