Patient in Wheelchair Rolled to His Death
Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 | Updated 7:15 PM EST
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A portable wheelchair ramp disappeared from West Haven just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday.
Police are investigating an accident at a West Hartford Nursing home that killed an 88 year old patient.
Percy Sumner's wheelchair rolled down a ramp Saturday in front of Bishop’s Corner nursing home and he fell over an embankment. He died later that afternoon at St. Francis Hospital from a head injury.
Sumner, who suffers from dementia, was monitored when he tried to go out the facility's secure front doors, according to the nursing home. He was sent back to his room, but minutes later went back out the doors unnoticed, a spokesperson for Bishop's Corner said.
That’s when Sumner rolled down the embankment to his death.
The West Hartford Police department is investigating.
"There’s just a lot of unanswered questions," Lt. Stephen Estes said. "I mean this is a wicked tragedy."
Bishop’s Corner released a statement saying, "We are deeply saddened by Saturday’s incident and we continue to make the care and well-being of our patients our highest priority here at Bishop’s Corner."
Posted Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 - 6:59 PM EST
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