Yuma-area schools secure, remove soccer goalposts

Soccer goalposts in at least four of five of Yuma County school districts have been anchored or removed in the wake of a fatal accident in San Luis, Ariz., school officials say.

Yuma, Crane, and Somerton Elementary School Districts and Yuma Union High School Districts have all secured or removed their respective goalposts after thorough evaluations following the Sept. 11 death of a fourth-grade student at Rio Colorado Elementary. The student died as a result of injuries sustained when a falling post collided with his head.

Rio Colorado Elementary is located within the Gadsden School District. Superintendent Ray Aguilera said he could not comment on the incident or goalpost examinations.

"At this point all answers regarding the incident are going through the attorneys," Aguilera said. A message left with Matthew Wright, the Phoenix-based attorney for the Gadsden School District, was not immediately returned.

Yuma's Parks and Recreation Department officials said all goalposts within their jurisdiction were checked and that Frankie Vasquez, a certified playground safety inspector, said the posts were safe. No changes needed to be made.

Yuma Elementary School District Superintendent Darwin Stiffler said the maintenance department examined posts in the district after officials felt the incident warranted checks. YESD is in the process of anchoring all remaining goalposts, Stiffler said.

"As I said last week, there were many different kinds," Stiffler said. "We thoroughly went through all of them and checked for recalls and anchoring kits from different manufacturers and so on. One (goalpost) we just took apart."

John Albert, of the Maintenance and Grounds section of the Crane Elementary School District, said the morning after the incident he spoke with the head groundskeeper concerning the potential for unstable goalposts.

"We went out and looked around and talked and got anchors for the one that was similar to the one that fell (at Rio Colorado Elementary)," Albert said. "We had some that were set in concrete but did not have a back brace. So we got ahold of a welder, made a back brace, then set them in concrete. We made some other repairs on others a month before (the incident). The kids like to get up on them and swing, and they had bent a bar. That had to be reworked."

Somerton Elementary School District Superintendent Douglas Rutan said most of the goalposts within his district were already anchored. Ones that were not secured have now been anchored or removed.

"Most of the elementary (school) ones were removed," he said. "We left the ones at middle school we know were anchored. And we do have a system setup to check them periodically."

Yuma Union High School District is mandated by the Arizona Interscholastic Association to routinely check goalposts for safety, including anchoring. Superintendent Toni Badone said all the goalposts are properly secured.

"We're really in a different situation (than elementary schools)," Badone said. "We have AIA sports, and especially with soccer we have to make sure they are secure. The AIA has a lot more rules, so yes, they are secured. The AIA governs that, and if they are not, we are liable for inspection."

Officials for the county parks could not be reached.

Baja El Sol reported last week that lawyers for the insurance company covering Gadsden School District were looking into the possibility of an out-of-court settlement with the family of Leonardo Herrera, the 10-year old killed in the incident. Aguilera said then that attorneys were reviewing all information related to the accident and will consider up to what point the district may be held responsible for the youth's death.

The Rio Colorado Elementary goalpost involved in the accident was a portable one. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued safety alerts regarding movable soccer soccer goals in the past, recommending they be anchored to level ground. Individuals, the Washington, D.C. agency says, should refrain from climbing the net or framework. CPSC has reported 28 deaths since 1979 involving toppled goalposts.

A San Luis Police Department investigation concluded the death was unintentional.

"In case of negligence, it will be the (Yuma) county attorney who will investigate if there is any civil complaints brought forth," San Luis Police Capt. Javier Nuño said.

Aguilera said a private consultant is expected in San Luis this week to review safety and security in the district's schools.