An Army investigation into the electrocution of four Boy Scout leaders on the opening day of the National Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill last summer will deem the deaths accidental, an Army spokesman said yesterday.
"I can tell you at this point with confidence that our case is going to be closed as an accidental-death case," said Chris Grey, spokesman for the Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Belvoir.
He declined comment on the possibility of civil lawsuits, but said, "We found no criminality involved, whatsoever."
Army investigators interviewed witnesses and anyone else involved with pertinent information, Grey said. They also reviewed autopsy reports and looked over the death scene.
The Scout leaders were killed July 25 at the Caroline County Army post when a pole for a large dining tent they were erecting struck a power line. The men had been helping two contractors from Tents and Event Inc. of Fishersville, which has since closed.
The victims were Michael J. Shibe, 49, Mike Lacroix, 42, and Ronald H. Bitzer, 58, all of Anchorage, Alaska, and Scott Edward Powell, 57, of Perrysville, Ohio. Shibe and Lacroix had sons participating in the jamboree.
The two contractors were burned during the incident but are now fine, said Brett Hayes, who formed Tents and Events, a division of RentQuick.com.
Gregg Shields, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America, said the organization will request a copy of the Army's report and looks forward to "gleaning any information we can from all who are involved in the jamboree."
The purpose of their request will be "to help us achieve our goal of making all scouting events at our next jamboree as safe as possible for everybody."
Bill Haines, Scout executive and chief executive officer of the Western Alaska Boy Scout Council in Anchorage, did not return a phone call seeking comment. His secretary said he was on the phone with representatives from the Boy Scouts of America in Irving, Texas.
Michael Harman, a Richmond attorney representing Tents and Events, said the Army's preliminary conclusion mirrors his own opinion.
"I thought all along that this was a tragic accident," he said.
He said he couldn't comment further until he reviews the Army's report.
Grey said he could not release any details on the Army's findings until the investigation is officially closed, which he thinks will be in a couple of weeks.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration office in Philadelphia also is investigating the deaths. Under federal guidelines, it must finish its probe this month.
The 10-day jamboree has been held at Fort A.P. Hill every four years since 1981, and drew more than 42,000 Boy Scouts, leaders and volunteers last summer. The next National Scout Jamboree won't be held until 2010, a one-year delay so the event will coincide with the organization's 100th anniversary.
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Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com