Father killed in backyard accident

A Carson City father was killed at his home late last week in what a Sheriff's Department official described as a "freak accident."

Page Porter, 40, was working on the filtering system for the in-ground pool at his home on Evans Street about 7:45 p.m. Thursday when a pressurized cylinder shot off the equipment, striking him in the head.

"He was trying to open the pool up for the summer, and it appears he was hovering over the filter, which is encased in a metal container. Apparently he was leaning over it and unbuckled the strap while the pump was engaged. The pressure built up and shot the metal canister in the air and struck him," said Carson City Sheriff's Lt. Ken Sandage. "It was a freak accident."

Porter was taken by ambulance to the Carson City airport to meet a Care Flight helicopter when he died of his injuries, said Sandage.

A state worker, Porter leaves behind his wife, Norma, and three children, Jonathan, 14, Edward, 10, and daughter Robbin, 12; parents Robbin and Linda Porter of Meadow Vista, Calif.; sister Patricia Porter of Sacramento; brother Les Porter and wife, Celeste of Victorville, Calif.; grandmother, Doris Hults of Hemet, Calif., and a large extended family.

A Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. today at St. Teresa Of Avila Catholic Community, 3000 N. Lompa Lane.

Donations to help the family with funeral expenses can be made to the Page Porter Memorial Fund at any Bank of America branch.