Boy shocked while walking down street

(Harlem-WABC, March 1, 2006) (WABC) -- A nine-year-old boy is back home after suffering an electric shock while walking in Harlem. Today City Council prepares to have a meeting with Con Ed and DOT to find out the best way to protect New Yorkers.

Eyewitness News reporter Lisa Colagrossi is live in Harlem with more on the story.

Con Ed and crews were still on the scene early this morning trying to figure out why the little boy experienced a shock.

It was around 5:45 last evening when the little boy was walking along 127th street and Lenox Avenue when suddenly he experienced an electric shock.

The child was rushed to Saint Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, where he was treated and released.

In the wake of this latest incident, pedestrians are understandably Concerned about the safety of what's underfoot.

Some try to avoid stepping on metal plates altogether.

Pedestrian: "Definitely, I always do. I don't even walk on them. I just walk on the solid ground."

Pedestrian: "Sometimes you might step on them, and you just hope to God nothing happens."

When Con Edison opened up the electrical service area below 127th street they found no stray voltage. The utility says it has inspected more than 11 hundred sites since the electrocution death of Jodie Lane in the East Village. She was killed two years ago when she was out walking her dog and stepped on an electrified plate.

Just last month during the blizzard, four pedestrians experienced electrical shocks after stepping on the metal lid of a service box in times square. They were not seriously injured.

City Councilman, John Liu says he's not satisfied with Con Ed.

John Liu, (D) NYC Council Member: "Stray voltage is not something that stays constant. Stray voltage is unpredictable, it's erratic..it just pops up. This is testimony that we received two years ago."

This morning at ten o'clock, Councilman Liu who is the chairman of the transportation committee is holding a special hearing with Con Ed, the DOT and other victims of stray electricity.

Ironically, it was scheduled before this latest incident happened but they certainly are looking for answers to see if there are better ways to protect New Yorkers.

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