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Show Wednesday, December 24, 2008 A7 Water district sued over teen's death i, . 1 . 1 J. Vernal Express ! - b. By Geoff LitsiK Uintah Basin News Service The Uintah Water Conservancy Conser-vancy District is being sued by the parents of a 16-year-old boy who died after becoming trapped in an irrigation canal in June. An attorney for Kelly and JeannieO'DriscollofTridell filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the water district on Wednesday. The O'Driscolls' claim the district dis-trict and its employees failed to prevent their son from accessing a spillway near the Steinaker Reservoir feeder canal near Maeser, leading to his death. According to court records, Ryan O'Driscoll and another teen had gone to the canal on June 18 with the intent to slide down the spillway and go swimming. "There were no warning signs, no trespassing signs or measures taken to prevent youth from entering into the spillway and canal area," the lawsuit states, adding that the two boys passed water district employees as they walked toward their destination, but were not stopped; The suit says that O'Driscoll slid down the spillway and became be-came trapped by an undertow. The boy was knocked down multiple mul-tiple times and struck his head, rendering him unconscious. At the time of the accident, Uintah County Sheriffs Lt. John Laursen told the Uintah Basin Standard that O'Driscoll's friend tried to pull him from the water, but he was also pulled under and almost drowned. Laursen said water district employees heard the boys' screams for help and responded from the head gate of the canal. The lieutenant said while one employee returned to the head gate to slow the water flow, another entered the water, and a third employee held on to a chain securing the employee in the water. The employee in the water pulled the second teen out of the water to the canal bank, then returned to the water and was able to free O'Driscoll. Water district dis-trict employees started CPR on O'Driscoll, who was transported to Ashley Regional Medical Center Cen-ter before being flown to Primary Children's Medical Center where he was put on life support. O'Driscoll died the following day after he was removed from life support. Doctors had told his parents he would not regain consciousness. The O'Driscolls' complaint accuses the water district, of, among other things, creating an "attractive nuisance" and failing to prevent access to the spillway and canal while "fully knowing that children regularly utilized it for the type of activities in which Ryan O'Driscoll and his friend were engaged." . An attorney for the water district said Thursday that he was aware of the lawsuit, but had not yet seen the complaint. DONATIONS Students at Discovery Elementary School in Vernal gathered nearly 3,500 food items, which they donated to the Ashley Valley Food Pantry. Students brought food from home, collected donations from family members, friends and community members to help families through the holiday season. Collectively, Mrs. Christensen's fifth-grade class and Mrs. Bridges' first-grade class, featured here, gathered the most items. (Robyn TooneSubmitted Photo) He said he could not comment on the case. The O'Driscolls' suit does not specify how much they are seeking seek-ing in damages or compensation for medical expenses. Community joins Santa for Christmas time breakfast By Tabatha Deans Express Writer More than a thousand community com-munity members took the morning morn-ing off from making breakfast Dec. 12 and took the family to the Eighth Annual Breakfast With Santa at Vernal Junior High School. Dozens of community busi nesses contributed to the event as a wayofsayingMerry Christ-' 1 'ma's:'" Vomhteerhostea games " for children, including a wreath toss, where kids tried to throw a bau tnrougn a unnstmas wreatn, and a snowman toss, where the goal was to throw a small snowman snow-man into a bowl. Families received free photos with Santa and a gift bag from the Current Topics Club. Members of the Elks Lodge cooked pancakes and eggs for attendees, and although the lines were long, event-goers socialized and made holiday plans while waiting for breakfast. Local fire officials were on hand to give little ones tours of the fire truck, including 3-year-old Konrad Keddy, who had his picture taken with fireman Dale Allred, before climbing into the truck and pulling the cord that activates the siren. Crowds were entertained with live music from Brian Litton, as well as local dancers and singers throughout the morning. A small donation got attendees tickets for a drawing, which included gift certificates from local businesses. busi-nesses. Shauna Eves helped coordinate coor-dinate the event, and says it began eight years ago at the Elks Lodge. "We outgrew the Elks Lodge the second year, so we moved to the Western Park," says Eves. "This is the first year we've held it at the Junior High, but obviously obvi-ously people were aware of the change because we've had more people in the first half hour than usual." Heather Thompson, a lifeguard life-guard at the Rec Center, rose early to help with some of the games. "I just love watching the people be happy and come play the games," she says. "And they don't have to make breakfast." tdeansvernal.com . ' ' J : . i g ; J pssfS-s ; Parents took the opportunity to skip the breakfast making, and joined their children for a free pancake breakfast. (Gary Parker Vernal Express) 1 I V ' -1 ' , , Santa and Mrs. Claus spent the day visiting with children of all ages, during the Eighth Annual Breakfast with Santa, at the Vernal Junior High. (Gary ParkerVernal Express) St (. " , 4 i A V- 3-i i ; t j -'Iinglc iseiis. Ilflistle Bells ' M I- , Oh what fan it is for us to wish you all a very ;- Happy Holiday! r y ' Wishing you all the best this Christmas and beyond. ':;: Your visits are always to for us...thanks! M ... 1 . i . X -X ifpl OLD FASIHONKn HAMEURGERS. Do- tf ui kmc in qoux attic? Call Tonya at 789-3511 to place your classified ad today! 0d Eg Only 18C per pound Lowest price in Basin! Basin Cleaning Systems 590 W. Main 789-5888 QUALIFY FOR SOUR own HOME O GET PRE-APPROVED LOCATION OHOME Clayton Homes 3768 So Redwood Rd West Valley Utah Fax: 801-975-7782 Phone: 801-975-7781 WITH THE VERY BEST WISHES FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS May your home be blessed with peace, love, joy and contentment throughout the Christmas season. We feel blessed to have such wonderful friends and neighbors like you. Thanks! " ' - Tl c 1 X "t " L. t ' "Expect the Best" ASPliN BROOK realty; inc.. 1340 W. Hwy. 40 Vernal, UT (435)789-7555 Konrad Kiddy, 3, is giddy after having just honked the loud horn on the fire truck. His father looks on with pride at the possible future firefighter. (Gary ParkerVernal Express) Today's Weather Wed 1224 XT 2211 Mostly cloudy. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens. Sunrise Sunset 7:37 AM 4:57 PM Thu 1225 WWW r5fti Fri 1226 2814 Snow showers at times. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the mid teens. Sunrise Sunset 7:37 AM 4:57 PM 235 Snow showers possible. Sunrise Sunset 7:37 AM 4:58 PM Sat 1227 206 Times of sun and clouds. Sunrise Sunset 7:38 AM 4:59 PM Sun 1228 i 289 Mostly sunny. Highs In the upper 20s and lows in the upper single digits. Sunrise Sunset 7:38 AM 4:59 PM We Celebrate Hometown Life Stories for and about hometowns just like yours. Look for us each week In this paper.. Utah At A Glance Moon Phases Logan G Ogden Salt Lake City 2921 s, pt Provo z. 2620 Cedar City 3016 J a- I Vernal 2211 I Last . Dec 19 First Jan 4 New Dec 27 t ' ' V ; Full Jan 11 UV Index Wed 1224 Low Thu 1225 1 Low Fri 1226 2 Low Sat 1227 2 Low Sun 1228 2 Low The UV Index Is measured on s 0-1 1 number scale, wilh fl hiu.her UV Index showing the need for giexlnr skin protection. pro-tection. O ' 1 1 Area Cities Beaver Blandlng Brigham City Cedar City Delta Elko, NV Evanston, WY Farmlngton, NM Fillmore Flagstaff. AZ !U sn shower 20 cloudy 19 cloudy 16 cloudy 18 cloudy 1 7 sn shower 1 2 sn shower 17 cloudy 20 cloudy 1 2 sn shower National Cities Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver bu 5b cloudy 44 32 mixed 33 10 mixed 58 36 pt sunny 31 15 pt sunny Grand Jet. UO Green River Heber City Kanab Logan Moab Mt. Pleasant Ogden Park City Preston, ID HouKtuit Los Angales Miami Minneapolis New York ?9 28 23 32 26 31 24 30 21 22 1a pt sunny 11 cloudy 1 3 sn shower 20 sn shower 16 cloudy 15 cloudy 14 cloudy 22 cloudy 1 5 sn shower t5 sn shower ism Puce Provo Richfield Roosevelt Salt Lake City Sandy St. George Tooele Vernal Wendover 1a 1; sn al lower 26 20 cloudy 31 19 cloudy 21 11 sn shower 29 21 cloudy 28 22 cloudy 41 29 cloudy 28 21 Cloudy 22 1 1 cloudy 29 21 cloudy 1 56 tu t-itoim 44 rain 78 69 rain 12 -2 sn shower 48 42 rain HtKwnix San Francisco Seattle St. Louis bJ 4! ram 62 43 rain 39 33 mixed 43 20 mm Washington, DC 53 45 rain 1 120 West Hwy 40, Vernal 4JS-78 1 2222 |