GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A Montana man who is in a Utah hospital will see his twin daughters graduate from high school over a laptop computer.
Rick Starkey of Malta suffered severe burns over 40 percent of his body on April 15. He sustained a 14,400-volt shock while working to restore power after a car struck a utility pole.
"We are so thankful that Rick is still with us," his wife, Shawn Pippin, said. "Every day that passes is one day closer to home."
Starkey is in the University of Utah's burn center in Salt Lake City.
He'll watch daughters Samantha and Amanda graduate Sunday on a laptop. Montana-based Vision Net is donating the streaming video technology, and a technician is managing the video feed in Malta.
Starkey has worked for Big Flat Electric Co-Op for 27 years.
"Rick's whole world centers around his three daughters," including 14-year-old Kylie, said friend Jim Fauth.
"It would have broken his heart not to be able to attend. We're absolutely thrilled that he and Shawn will be watching from Salt Lake City," Fauth said.