As Thurman pulled the truck off the road to check it, he raised the dump bed, making contact with overhead power lines.

Unaware the vehicle was in contact with the power lines, he got out of the truck when he discovered the rear tires were on fire.

As he stepped to the ground, and made contact, the current flowed through him, knocking him down.

He was badly burned, both by the electrical shock and the burning tires.

In a phone conversation with The Marshall Democrat-News Wednesday, May 28, Thurman's wife, Julie, said her husband is in "very critical" condition.

His burns are extensive, covering about 50 percent of his body, and he is still sedated after surgery to amputate his right arm and shoulder area.

Thurman is being treated at Burnett Burn Center at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City.

Julie Thurman said the family is "doing pretty good, hanging in there. We have to take it day to day."

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net