Announcer killed at Wisconsin monster truck show
It has been less than ten days since a tragic accident at a Tacoma, Washingon monster truck show killed a six-year old spectator. Now comes word that a promoter/announcer at a Madison, Wisconsin Monster Nationals event has been killed at a similar event run by a different promoter.According to reports, George Eisenhart Jr., 41, was hit by a monster truck called Samson during competition. Evidently, Eisenhart was standing in a well that feeds out onto the Alliant Energy Center's floor when he was struck. He was subsequently taken to the University of Wisconsin Hospital, but did not survive.
Unlike last weekend's event, the show in Wisconsin was immediately halted and the subsequent Saturday afternoon show was canceled as well.
Early investigation shows that applicable safety regulations were adhered to during the event, and that neither Eisenhart nor Samson's driver, Daniel Patrick, saw each other in the moments leading up to the accident. County investigators and Madison's Occupational Health and Safety officials are looking in to the matter, but early reports suggest that they have yet to find "any obvious safety issues." Associated Press video coverage available after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Jim.
[Source: Channel3000; Associated Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ken_aisin 1:00PM (1/26/2009)
RIP, and condolences to his family and loved ones.
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Tim 2:25PM (1/26/2009)
Suicide maybe?
Heck, even dumber than mud Nascar announcers know enough not to stand on a track during competition. Hard to believe that Monster truck announcers wouldn't even know that.
lmao! 1:05PM (1/26/2009)
That was in terrible taste, but I can't stop laughing at it!
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Max 1:14PM (1/26/2009)
I like how someone died and there were no obvious safety issues. As if the death itself isn't evidence of a safety issue. Monster truck mentality at its best!
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slicecom 1:20PM (1/26/2009)
Judging by the video, the only safety issue was the promoter walking across the middle of the floor in the middle of 2 monster trucks doing an exhibition. I'm not quite sure what he was thinking.
noz 1:16PM (1/26/2009)
One the most stupid sports ever created....ranks up there along with bull-fighting.
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Joey Mazz 6:50PM (1/26/2009)
Hey, monster truck shows may be the sole entertainment of brain-dead rednecks but I will not let you insult bull fighing by comparing the two. Bullfighting is a old and proud tradition that pits man against beast in a fight to the death and usually ends with red meat being served. Perfect man's sport.
noz 3:39AM (1/27/2009)
Perfect man's sport? Perhaps they should grow some balls and do it without the swords and knives they drive into the bulls neck...then it'll be a man's sport.
Frat Stud 1:17PM (1/26/2009)
Six your old kid gets killed = show must go on!
Promoter gets killed = stop everything!
Those are some messed up priorities.
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nissanfreak87 1:59PM (1/26/2009)
the two shows were put on by two different companies
akboss 1:22PM (1/26/2009)
I really do empathize for the family, but I've been to a couple of these shows...you could hear a monster truck coming from three miles away if you were standing underneath a 747 during takeoff, how do you miss that?
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Zeph 2:15PM (1/26/2009)
For the very same reason, after a few years promoting them the deceased was probably as death as a doorknob.
Zeph 2:17PM (1/26/2009)
*Deaf* as a doorknob, freudian slip.
jimmy glick 1:27PM (1/26/2009)
This is very sad. It just seems unimaginable that he could not have heard that second truck about to barrel down on him. He also had to have known that two trucks were on the course instead of just one.
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Scorch 1:57PM (1/26/2009)
Maybe it was a hybrid monster truck.
Rich 2:00PM (1/26/2009)
Beg pardon?
whoapossum 2:55PM (1/26/2009)
Evidently the trucks normally split and go down opposite sides of the arena (not one right after the other). The promoter assumed this was the case and stepped out of the tunnel without looking. Just goes to show that you should probably be on your toes at all times when on an arena floor with monster trucks.
Kooshball 1:36PM (1/26/2009)
lol, didn't want to laugh but i did.
i think AB missed the most interesting part though, gathered from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/26/monster.truck.death/index.html
"Ironically, Eisenhart talked about the safety of his shows, put on by Monster Truck Nationals, in an interview with a Madison television station before the weekend event.
"This is our 16th year," Eisenhart told CNN affiliate WKOW. "I wish I had a big piece of wood to knock on right now, but we have not had an incident besides a gal slipping in the aisleway at another location.""
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TheClassic 1:31PM (1/26/2009)
Crazy: before the show he says "I wish I had a big piece of wood to knock on but we have not had an incident"
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JAL 1:35PM (1/26/2009)
So this is why mommy always told me to look both ways before crossing the monster truck show!
.........I’m going to hell for that comment, but I got a laugh.
Seriously the dude just walked out in front of the thing, its not like he couldn’t hear the 1000+ hp motor with straight piped exhaust coming.....hate to bring it up but perhaps he did it on purpose?
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