A South Carolina high school teacher was killed when a utility pole struck her as she walked on her lunch break.
Jeunelle Robinson, 31, of Wagener-Salley High School, was hit by a utility pole that flew airborne at an intersection when a tractor-trailer drove into eight powerlines on Aug. 23 in Wagener, SC, roughly 40 miles southwest of Columbia.
The truck became entangled in the powerlines, bringing down the poles, one of which struck the beloved social studies instructor.
According to witnesses, the “genuine and sweet” instructor attempted to move out of the way before the freak accident.
Robinson was transported to Aiken Regional Medical Centers and then airlifted to Augusta University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Robinson’s relatives are now seeking $100 million for her inheritance, as well as a $10 million trust for an annual scholarship in Robinson’s honor, according to WRDW.
According to an attorney for Robinson’s family, the wooden utility pole was decades old and would not have toppled if utility companies had performed an inspection.
According to the family’s counsel, Rep. Justin Bamberg, the family is requesting that utility providers invest $20 million in local electrical infrastructure and pay the Robinson estate with $100 million for the family’s agony and suffering.
According to Bamberg, the family’s proposal for $10 million to endow a scholarship in Robinson’s honor is for Aiken County college students seeking careers as teachers.
“This tragedy has been devastating to all of us because Ms. Robinson was in her second year teaching social studies at Wagener-Salley,” school administrators said in a statement.
“Over the past year, she became friends with numerous colleagues and developed meaningful relationships with many of our students. She was genuine and sweet to everyone she encountered, her time here feels much too short.”
Bamberg believes the accident could have been avoided, putting the blame on the companies who oversaw the utility poles at the intersection.
“The utter and complete failure from a lot of people who have more money than the state of South Carolina took her [Jeunelle Robinson],” Bamberg said, who believes the accident could have been avoided.
Robinson was in her second year as a teacher at the school in South Carolina.
Two days after Robinson’s death, the school’s football team postponed their Friday night game, which they posted on their official Facebook page.
In honor of Robinson’s death, the school also canceled a volleyball game and an open house.
