Announcer Hurt At Monster Nationals Show
Attendee Told WISC-TV That Show Was Stopped After Incident
Posted: 11:20 pm CST January 24, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- An announcer for the Monster Nationals monster truck and thrill show was seriously hurt after being struck by a truck during the show, according to eyewitnesses.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportA woman who attended the program said that the announcer was struck during a race, WISC-TV reported.Melissa Millard said she saw a truck called "Samson" strike a man standing against the event floor wall. She said event staff told the audience that the show was over and that attendees had to exit. According to Millard, an ambulance then quickly came to the man's aid.Sun Prairie resident Sarah Killerlain called the incident "horrific." She and her boyfriend brought his 7-year-old son and her 3-year-old son to the show. She said they covered the boys' eyes after the accident."They're just devastated," Killerlain said. "It was awful."The incident comes just eight days after a piece of flying metal debris struck and killed a 6-year-old boy at a similar show in Tacoma, Wash.Before Saturday's show, WISC-TV spoke to organizers about safety concerns."In my 16 years of doing the Madison, Wis., event, we've had a great event safety experience," said George Eisenhart of the Monster Nationals.But even people attending the event seemed wary."When we got our tickets, we made sure they were pretty high because of stuff that has happened," said fan Taunia Stout, of Baraboo.The event organizer in Washington isn't the same company that is behind the Madison event, but organizers in Madison said they take safety seriously."Like an event like here in Madison, Wis., where there's three shows," said Eisenhart, "we're not only looking at trucks on Friday before they start the weekend, but we look at them between each show, just in case something happens between events."For all of the Monster Nationals shows, organizers have implemented a safety plan that includes having fans sit five rows back."We've never had, knocking on wood, an incident happen to a spectator sitting out in a safety area," said Eisenhart.Sunday's show was to begin at 1 p.m. No word on whether Saturday's incident will result in a cancellation of the performance.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportA woman who attended the program said that the announcer was struck during a race, WISC-TV reported.Melissa Millard said she saw a truck called "Samson" strike a man standing against the event floor wall. She said event staff told the audience that the show was over and that attendees had to exit. According to Millard, an ambulance then quickly came to the man's aid.Sun Prairie resident Sarah Killerlain called the incident "horrific." She and her boyfriend brought his 7-year-old son and her 3-year-old son to the show. She said they covered the boys' eyes after the accident."They're just devastated," Killerlain said. "It was awful."The incident comes just eight days after a piece of flying metal debris struck and killed a 6-year-old boy at a similar show in Tacoma, Wash.Before Saturday's show, WISC-TV spoke to organizers about safety concerns."In my 16 years of doing the Madison, Wis., event, we've had a great event safety experience," said George Eisenhart of the Monster Nationals.But even people attending the event seemed wary."When we got our tickets, we made sure they were pretty high because of stuff that has happened," said fan Taunia Stout, of Baraboo.The event organizer in Washington isn't the same company that is behind the Madison event, but organizers in Madison said they take safety seriously."Like an event like here in Madison, Wis., where there's three shows," said Eisenhart, "we're not only looking at trucks on Friday before they start the weekend, but we look at them between each show, just in case something happens between events."For all of the Monster Nationals shows, organizers have implemented a safety plan that includes having fans sit five rows back."We've never had, knocking on wood, an incident happen to a spectator sitting out in a safety area," said Eisenhart.Sunday's show was to begin at 1 p.m. No word on whether Saturday's incident will result in a cancellation of the performance.Copyright 2009 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
