Gate That Killed Boy Was Off Hinges For Years
A 1,200-pound gate was left off its hinges at the Tenney Grammar School for at least four years before it toppled onto an 11-year-old boy and killed him - and no one knows why.
A city investigation into the Sept. 3 incident that killed Timothy DiLeo revealed the gate was taken down sometime between November 2000 and October 2003 because it was getting in the way of trash pickup, Mayor William Manzi said.
The report, which will be released by the city tomorrow, does not say why it was left leaning up against a brick wall in the school’s Dumpster area. Manzi said a welding company took the gate off its hinges, but the city cannot find a purchase order to show when the actual work was done.
The order to take down the gate was made by a former school maintenance official. It was signed off by former school Superintendent Nathan Littlefield and former schools Business Manager John Crafton, the mayor said.
Manzi said current administration was unaware of the situation.
At this point in the investigation, the mayor said, the city has no plans for legal or disciplinary action against employees or former employees who may have known about the unsecured gate.
The gate fell on Timothy DiLeo while he was playing with his 8-year-old brother Andrew, 13-year-old brother Steven, and 14-year-old friend Brandon LaPorte on Labor Day.
The boys climbed on the gate that was leaning up against the wall and it fell over, landing on top of Timothy and Andrew. Timothy was killed and Andrew suffered a broken arm and other injuries.
The DiLeo family has hired a lawyer to try to find out who’s responsible for leaving the gate off its hinges. No lawsuits have been filed.
“It’s a terrible tragedy. It’s unimaginable to lose a child,” said Robert Gilbert, the family’s lawyer. “(The family is going through) a horrible grieving process. The most important thing is for them to come together as a family.”
Regarding the potential for a lawsuit, Gilbert said, “There is time to do that. It’s not what they are interested in.”
“My concern is with Timmy’s parents, his two brothers and his sister,” Gilbert said. “They’re dealing with the loss, and all five have to figure out how to deal with it.”
Gilbert has not seen the report yet, but Manzi said it will be provided to the DiLeo family. Manzi said the city will continue to talk with the family and their lawyer.
“In a situation like this, this document may be helpful,” Manzi said. “Or it may trigger more questions the city needs to answer. Certainly we want to present the best set of facts we have and we know. That’s our obligation.”