Ten Fired After Radio Contest Tragedy

(CBS/AP)  A Sacramento area radio station fired 10 employees Tuesday, including three morning disc jockeys, in reaction to a tragedy in which a woman died Friday after an on-air water-drinking contest at the station's studios.

The hosts of the KDND-FM "Morning Rave" show - who go by the on-air names Trish, Maney and Lukas - were fired a day after the station suspended the show and said it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

Jennifer Lea Strange, 28, died after participating in a water-drinking contest on the hit music radio station, which calls itself – playing on the sound of its call letters – The End.

CBS News station KOVR-TV reports that during the contest, a listener - self-identified as a nurse - called the live radio broadcast and warned that the game was dangerous.

"I want to say that those people drinking all that water can get sick and die from water intoxication," said the caller.

"Yeah, we're aware of that," replied a DJ, according to the broadcast news report. "They signed releases so we're not responsible, okay?"

Donnie Logsdon – one of the 18 contestants trying to win a Nintendo Wii gaming console by drinking the most water without going to the bathroom – tells KOVR-TV news that they didn't hear that on-air warning in the room where he and the others were filling up way beyond comfort.

"Maybe she would have walked away," says Logsdon. "But we didn't hear that inside there."

Strange was second to last to stop drinking, and when she bowed out, she did say on the air that she was not feeling well.

"My head hurts. They keep telling me that it's the water...that it will
tell my head to hurt and it'll make me puke." Strange told the DJ, live on the air, before leaving the station. "Who told you that, the intern?" was the DJ's response, according to the KOVR-TV news report on the radio show.

John Geary, vice president and general manager of KDND parent company, Entercom/Sacramento, announced the firings Tuesday in an e-mail to reporters: "Effective immediately, the 'Morning Rave' program is canceled and ten employees are no longer with the station."

A company spokesman, Charles Sipkins, confirmed that the three DJs, as well as two other on-air personalities, "Carter" and "Fester," are among those fired. Five other employees who worked on the "Morning Rave" also were let go. All 10 were fired, the spokesman said, for violating terms of their employee agreements.

The "Morning Rave" had been on the air for about five years and was one of Sacramento's top-rated morning radio shows.

During the contest, participants were given two minutes to drink an 8-ounce bottle of water and then given another bottle to drink after a 10-minute break.

The contest was called "Hold your Wee for a Wii."

Contestant James Ybarra said he quit drinking after imbibing eight bottles, but Strange, who placed second, and other would-be winners kept going even after they were handed even larger containers.

In all, according to witness reports, Strange may have drunk nearly two gallons. Afterward, she appeared ill when she went on the air, one contestant said.

After the contest, Strange called in sick to work, crying and saying she was heading home in terrible pain. About five hours later, Strange – who had three children - was found dead by her mother at her home in the Sacramento suburb of Rancho Cordova.

According to the Sacramento County coroner, preliminary autopsy findings indicate she died of water intoxication.

Drinking large quantities of water rapidly can throw off the body's balance of electrolytes, causing brain swelling and leading to seizures, coma, or even death.

In February 2005, a Chico State University student died after drinking too much water in a hazing incident at a fraternity. Matthew Carrington was forced to repeatedly drink from a 5-gallon jug and then do calisthenics.

In that case, one fraternity member pleaded guilty to felony involuntary manslaughter and two others pleaded guilty to being accessories to manslaughter, among other charges.

Sgt. Tim Curran, spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, which would have jurisdiction over the KDND incident, said officers are not investigating Strange's death.

"It was a contest and people are saying there was no coercion. On its face, it appears it was all done voluntarily, and no criminal activity was involved," Curran said.

In the studio, Ybarra said Strange showed fellow contestants photographs of her two sons and daughter, for whom she was hoping to win the Nintendo Wii. The game console retails for about $250.

[galdon2004]

Wow, so much negativity towards the -contestants- maybe I should reveal something. Did you know when you sign up for soccer, football, or baseball at school, your parents must sign a medical waiver? Here is how the conversation probably went when those contestants were signing them

"What is this about?" 'Its just a standard waiver, like when you sign up your kid for soccer at school. It doesn't mean anything.'

That is seriously how most waivers are treated, the person wanting you to sign will say 'oh its no big deal, there's no actual risk, this is just a formality' and if you are not a doctor, or have a doctor to advise you, there is no proof to the contrary. Especially for something as obscure as 'water intoxication'

Waivers are treated like the be all end all of avoiding consequences. I personally hate them. Just like those trucks you see barreling down the road at breakneck speeds throwing rocks everywhere and passing you so you get hit, and they have a stupid little "stay back 100 feet, not responsible for damages" sign to protect them from having to pay damages.

As far as medical waivers are concerned, I believe that the waiver should not be allowed to extend to death or any permanent disability, considering how much it is downplayed to get the signature out of people.

[koshechka-2009]

One other thing. No liability waiver can stipulate that death can occur. This will be assisting suicide and it is illegal. For example, if you were to have a Russian roulette game even if you warn participants that they may be killed, you'd still be criminally liable. I think this article is a bit old because another article of 5 hours ago said that criminal investigation has been opened.

[koshechka-2009]

I can't believe these comments either. The woman clearly wasn't aware of the dangers, so to say "she knew what she was doing" is ignorant at best. Did you khow of the dangers? I think that most people you ask on the street are not aware of it. Honestly, how many of the posters were aware of it before this? How many of you know the safe limits? Even now some people think it is because of her not going to the bathroom when it has nothing to do with it. Had he gone to the bathroom but still drunk as much water in the same amount of time, the result would've been the same. Here is a good explanation of the process by the way: http://rhosgobel.blogspot.com/2007/01/death-by-water-intake-look-at-osmosis.html

On the other hand, the station personnel specifically said they were aware of it. They were discussing hazing incident. They were warned. After the contest, when the woman was complaining of how bad she was feeling nobody even suggested she go to the ER. I think they are criminally negligent.

[lbuajlw]

I can%u2019t believe some of these comments. Regardless of the fact that these contestants signed release forms, they probably were not aware of water intoxication. The DJs were and knowingly put these people at risk, for a $250.00 game console. They should all be tried for what I consider not only a criminal act, but a complete disregard for human life and compassion for their fellow human beings. I am so sick of these moronic radio hosts and their stupid contests and gimmicks to gain market share. Thank goodness for public radio!

[gramto7]

webdepot wrote;
training for an xray tech is 1/500 the training for a nurse

Sorry to call you on this, but it takes two full years to get a RN license or two full years to get a X-ray tech license. Take your pick!

[hermit22]

"depraved indifferance" - these DJ fools need to be pushing a broom in prison for a few years.

[raiderkids4]

I don't think the DJ's should be held responsable 4 her death, because she knew what she was doing and could have stopped. I do agree with them being fired because thier coments were non sympathedic to the water poisoning facts. Her family should still get the Wii game system since she lost her life for it. Come on 107.9 step up for her hids, they deserve at leased that from you. That family needs all the support they can get right now. I'm deeply sorry for thier loss. TORI

[philwcarr]

The contest should have had
Medical Personnel, so all participants could have been evaluated and treated for possible water intoxication.
Its like giving blood, they dont let you go home right away. The blood donor is constantly monitored during the procedure.
The cost to have ones electroylytes balanced from water intoxication would be minimal to that of a lost life. To allow a contest like this to happen leads me to believe in the most irresponsible management decision of any radio station I've ever known. I'm sure programs like survivor have the appropriate medical personnel available.
Children are the issue here. Our deepest sympathy to the children and their families.

[ncolsens]

I'm sure that those at the radio station were just as ignorant to "water intoxication" as most of were until this was aired, I never heard of water intoxication until this woman died, and I'm sure most of did not ever hear of it either, though a lot of you are not willing to admit to that.

[goldworldnet]

I don't know what the civil or criminal liabilities are, but given the nature of the contest and the risks involved, it was negligent not to have it monitored by a medical professional.