Jason Silveira Survives Impalement From Manure Spreader But Tatiana's Victim (Carlos Sousa) Was Not So Fortunate -by Legal Pub

California can be hazardous to your health. Skin cancer? No, this is not an article about wearing sunscreen. Let's instead examine the case of a young boy named Jason Silveira. Jason, son of Ron and Candi Silveira was impaled by a manure spreader on a Fresno County farm. His grandfather was apparently operating the machine when the young boy fell off the machine. Steel prongs penetrated his body. The injuries to his chest and neck and head were awful. While the accident and the injury truly stink, fortunately, Jason is making a fantastic recovery and should have little to no permanent impairment. By next year, it is anticipated that Jason will be back to playing soccer. This Christmas he is feeling very fortunate. However, other victim of California mishaps are apparently not quite as lucky.

Something about this next story also smells. The San Francisco Zoo became a place of terror this week. Police shot and killed a 300 pound tiger who escaped from its cage and attacked three people. Fire Department Lt. Mindy Talmadge provided details to the press. Victims were taken to San Francisco General Hospital. Dr. Eric Isaacs said the two injured men, ages 19 and 23, were in serious but stable condition. Most of the wounds were to the head and neck according to Dr. John Brown. The third victim apparently died at the zoo from fatal wounds.

"Apparently right around closing time -- there was a pen with four tigers in it -- one of the tigers got out," Talmadge said. "The tiger went into a cafe at the zoo and attacked a patron. That person ended up dying at the scene."

The tiger was a 300-pound female named Tatiana. Robert Jenkins could not explain how the tiger got out, since the enclosure has a 15-foot moat and 20-foot walls. According to The San Francisco Chronicle, Tatiana is the same tiger that chewed the flesh off a keeper's arm in an attack last December. ( The zoo keeper was believed to be Lori Komejan.) Tatiana was four years old.

Update 12-27: The 17-year-old boy killed by a tiger was Carlos Sousa of San Jose. Police are investigating whether someone helped the tiger escape. The area of the zoo has been deemed a crime scene according to San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong.

Update 12-28: Their are conflicting reports as to whether the tiger was being teased. There apparently is no doubt that standards require a protective wall over 16 foot high and this wall was only 12 and a half! The zoo will be increasing security and the investigation will continue.

Update 3-22-10: Due to spamming, any future comments on this thread must be emailed to legalpub@legalpub.net. They will be reviewed and added accordingly.