Lehi teacher seriously injured in welding accident in class

According to police, no students were injured in the accident earlier this month.

A Lehi High School agriculture teacher is responding well to ongoing medical treatment after suffering severe facial injuries in a welding accident in class earlier this month, Lehi police said.

The May 10 accident occurred as teacher Colton Marble was helping a student with a welding project that involved cutting a 55-gallon drum in half to create a feed trough for cattle, according to Sgt. Levi Lewis of the Lehi Police Department.

Marble was using a plasma cutter to cut the drum when it ignited and exploded in his face, causing “significant damage,” Lewis said. No one else was injured.

Students immediately called 911, with the first call coming in at 11:38 a.m., Lewis said.

After receiving a text message about the situation, a student who was in another building at the time also ran to the agriculture building and began to render aid. She had recently completed a paramedic course, Lewis said.

“(That) ultimately helped save his life,” Lewis said.

Emergency crews arrived shortly afterward. Marble was taken to a local hospital and later flown to a trauma center, Lewis said.

According to a statement from the Alpine School District, the school notified Lehi High parents and families of the accident that day. Support services and crisis counseling were made available to students.

“During this difficult time, we express our deepest concern to the affected teacher and his family,” the message said.

Marble remains in the hospital, Lewis said.

“We have heard and learned that the teacher is responding well to the medical treatments he is receiving,” Lewis said. “They are optimistic and hopeful, but it will be a long road to recovery.”

Students have come together to support Marble and his family. A student started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for medical expenses.

In the campaign description, the student wrote that he was “one of thousands of people who have been helped, guided and mentored by one of Lehi High School’s most incredible teachers.”

As of Wednesday, more than $33,000 had been raised. All donations will go directly to Marble’s family.