By Hamil R. Harris
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Prince George's County officials said yesterday that they are investigating why live wiring was exposed at a Chillum bus stop where an electrical shock left a 6-year-old girl hospitalized overnight with third-degree burns.

A lighted shelter at the bus stop was removed in February after repeated acts of vandalism, and the electricity was supposed to have been turned off then, said Susan Hubbard, spokeswoman for the county Department of Public Works and Transportation.

"We have a certification from our contractors that the electricity was shut off," Hubbard said. "We are in the process of investigating this further."

The bus stop is a pickup point for Metrobus service, but the property is owned by the county, and removal of the shelter was the county's responsibility, Hubbard said.

About 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the child was waiting with family members in the 6500 block of Ager Road, fire department spokesman Mark Brady said. She received "severe burns" to her hands when she "grabbed the live wire," he said.

The girl was treated at Children's National Medical Center and released the next day, a family member said.

A Pepco crew capped the wire after the incident, but spokesman Robert Dobkin said the equipment did not belong to the utility.