Electrical shock victim moved to rehab center after one month

Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Courtesy photo Daughter Kassidy Smith comforts her injured father, Andrew Smith, who is now hospitalized at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana at Indianapolis.

What may seem like a baby step in the recovery process is more like a giant leap for a former Greencastle man recovering from an electrical shock accident that fatally injured his boss while leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

Andrew Smith, 31-year-old son of Lori Smith of Greencastle and the late Clayton Smith, had been in Eskenazi Hospital at Indianapolis since the March 21 accident in Brazil.

But after nearly a month in the burn unit there, Smith was moved Tuesday to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) off 38th Street on the west side of Indianapolis.

"He lost both hands and he's paralyzed from the waist down, but he hopes to regain that and walk again," his mother told the Banner Graphic Tuesday.

Smith and his boss, 54-year-old Don Skelton of Skelton Tree Service, Brazil, were clearing trees on some private property along State Road 59, south of Brazil and north of Interstate 70, on March 21. That's when tragedy struck as Skelton's hand reportedly came in contact with a live power line.

"Andrew doesn't really remember what happened," Lori Smith said, indicating she was told her son and his boss were replacing a ground wire when Skelton -- who was in a bucket truck -- came in contact with a live wire and was killed instantly.

The electrical shock caused burns to more than 15 percent of Smith's body, including his hands, knees, chest, head and face.

Injured in a March 21 electrical shock accident, 31-year-old Andrew Smith is surrounded by members of his family at Eskenazi Hospital before his transfer Tuesday to Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana at Indianapolis.

While Smith is recovering at RHI, wife Heather Smith and their three children, Kassidy, Andrew and Ethan, are looking for a new home in the Brazil area. They will need a wheelchair-accessible residence to accommodate Smith's needs once his rehab is complete.

Smith who attended Greencastle Middle School before going to high school at Northview in Brazil, is the grandson of Wayne and Julie Burns, Greencastle, and the brother of Niki Smith, Greencastle.

To assist the family with expenses through this ordeal, an account has been set up at Old National Bank, 1 N. Indiana St., Greencastle. Checks should be made payable to the Andrew Smith Account.

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