Homepage / Phoenix News
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters
Related To Story


| More


Teen Trapped Under Tree In Monsoon

POSTED: 6:30 am MST August 30, 2008
UPDATED: 9:06 am MST August 30, 2008

A Tempe teen is lucky to be alive after a tree fell on him during Thursday night’s monsoon.

Shane Harris, 18, was running in the street and racing to get home as a monsoon packing wind gusts up to 100 mph thundered into the Valley. He jumped on the sidewalk to avoid a car when a giant tree came crashing down, trapping him underneath.

Nancy Kekedakis, the boy's grandmother, said she called paramedics and then ran to a neighbor’s house so they could go out looking for her grandson.

"It scared me a lot," Kekedakis said. "I was very, very scared for Shane."

Shane told his grandmother he was in the park, but it turned out he was a just a block away from his home and lying under a Eucalyptus tree.

"He was throwing rocks and crying and hollering," Kededakis said.

A man driving by saw the tree fall on the teen and comforted him until help arrived, Kededakis said.

"The tree was lying on top of Shane and it took five guys to lift it off, to get Shane’s legs out," Kekedakis said.

The teen is in hospital with a fractured leg and a few more fractures in his lower back.

"My grandson is very lucky to be alive right now," Kekedakis said.

Cities Offer Assistance For Victims Of Storm

A massive cleanup effort is under way in several Valley communities in the wake of the storm that slammed into the area Thursday night, uprooting trees, downing power lines and ripping the roof off the domed football practice field at Arizona State University.

APS customers still without power are being told that they can go to grocery stores to purchase 20 pounds of dry ice for their refrigerators/freezers and APS will reimburse them for the expenditure.

The Red Cross set up a cooling at Arcadia High School's Auxiliary Gym at 4703 E. Indian School Road. The public should call the Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross at (800) 842-7349 for more information.

In Tempe, the city has scheduled a "Special Storm Related Bulk Debris Pick-Up" to be held on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It is designed to help residents in the Riverside/Sunset neighborhood, which was the hardest hit in the city. Crews will be equipped with collection vehicles and bob-cats to assist with the removal of debris.

Phoenix residents can call the Parks Department at 602-534-9440 to remove trees that have fallen in the street or right-of-way.


Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Before you splurge on that pricey remodeling project, beware. It may not pay you back when it's time to sell. More

Employers generally have options when it comes to hiring. Makes sure you present yourself as professionally as possible, or else. More

Want to lose weight? Get a diet and fitness plan customized for you from Jillian Michaels of TV’s Biggest Loser. MoreClick Here

The signs of Cancer can sometimes be very subtle. Here's a guide to help you recognize them early. More

Sponsored Links

Consumer Info



Sponsored Content Provided by ARA