9 Hurt In Monster Truck Stunt Gone Wrong

Six Children, Three Adults Injured When Truck At Illinois Show Veers Into Crowd

(AP)  A monster truck performing stunts veered into a crowd of about 100 spectators Thursday, injuring at least nine people before breaking through a wooden fence and stopping on nearby railroad tracks, officials said.

Three adults and six children were taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb, officials said.

Two of them, a mother and her 4-year-old daughter, were transferred in serious condition to trauma hospitals in Rockford, said Kishwaukee hospital spokeswoman Sharon Emanuelson. The seven others were treated and released by Thursday night.

The demonstration, part of a monster truck tour sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts, featured the truck driving over four cars, crushing them.

"After its third or fourth attempt of rolling over the cars, and getting back down to the street, it appeared to have lost control and at that point careened off to the left into part of the crowd that was watching the event," said City Manager Mark Biernacki.

Witness Patrick Sheridan, 16, said the driver and staff from NAPA had asked observers to stand back from the road after the truck's first few passes.

"I watched the guy go over two or three times getting some air and one time he went up and he came really close to hitting people," Sheridan said, adding that the truck appeared to come within just three feet of bystanders.

The teen said the final pass "was like a full-out jump because he, like, floored it and it just went up and landed on the back tires and kept going."

"It sounded like he couldn't get the gas off and like it kept going and going and going," he said.

Biernacki said the 44-year-old truck driver did not appear to be injured in the accident that happened about 2 p.m.

"There was just this sound of steel crunching," DeKalb resident James Vesely told The Daily Chronicle of DeKalb. "I ran over to see if it hit anybody's car, and I saw a woman and a little girl ... lying on the ground with dirt on them."

One of the two seriously injured victims was transferred to OSF St. Anthony Medical Center and the other was sent to Rockford Memorial Hospital, said Kishwaukee nursing supervisor Jennifer Cedillo. OSF Saint Anthony spokeswoman Therese Michels confirmed that one of the victims was at the hospital's trauma center, but Rockford Memorial declined to release any information Thursday night.

Jerry Nix, a spokesman for NAPA's parent company, Genuine Parts Co., said he could not comment on the incident. A message left at the auto parts store near the accident site after business hours was not immediately returned.

The city of DeKalb gave the store permission to close the street for the demonstration, Russell said. DeKalb police had no further details Thursday.

The manager of a bicycle shop on the block where the accident happened said he didn't see the incident but saw the truck performing stunts beforehand.

"It looked very precarious," said Tobie DePauw, manager of North Central Cyclery.

[bobnjersey]

[A monster truck performing stunts veered into a crowd of about 100 spectators Thursday, injuring at least nine people ]

they should just change the name from 'monster truck' to 'stupid truck' ... stupid for doing all that stuff to the truck ... stupid for spending all that money on that stupid stuff you did ... stupid for what you can do w/ the truck once you do all that stupid stuff to it ... and stupid for standing close to them doing their stupid stuff w/ their stupid truck.

[ralan40]

Didn't anybody learn from the incident in W Va?? City streets are not safe for these type of things. There is a reason these trucks and race cars are not considered 'street legal'. I don't know who is more stupid, the people who do these stunts, the organizations/municipalities who organize these, or the people who put themselves in harms way to witness these things.

[missingamerica]

What? On a city street? Wow. Who issued that permit? Grandma Moses, who didn't know what a monster truck was?

[rushman71]

SUNDAY!!!
SUNDAY!!!
SUNDAYYYY!!!
At the Monster Truck JAAAAAMMMMMMMM!!!!
You'll be ROLLED OVER in Amazement!!!!
Your kids will be CRUSHED with Excitement!!!
Come down this Sunday to the Monster Truck JAAAAMMMMM!!!!
This SUNDAY!!!
SUNDAY!!!
SUNDAYYYYY!!!!!

[glb1969]

There should be mandatory safety standards for these silly events.

[djberson]

Dumb rednecks. Hope it didn't squish anyone's tobaccer.

[barbaraf4]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the injured.

Why was this event allowed on a city street? This is similar to that hot rod event a few months ago.

This is all part of the "dumbing down" of America. We don't use our common sense anymore.

[mitywhity]

Why in the name of sanity would anyone get anywhere near this stuff? I feel horrible at the thought of these victims but this is not safe to watch at sground level nor is it wise to do - is NAPA gone loco? Do they not recall the hotrod burnout at the parade in TN? There are too many people making decisions today that have no common sense at all. NAPA should be ashamed.

[olebd]

They should name it HAL. The machines are taking over!

[j_flood]

Isn't this what stadiums are for? Put on a flatbed and drive it by the crowds.

I agree - what happened to common sense - or is the joke true "hey everybody, watch this!"

[drputt45]

I blame Bush and WalMart.

[rmmm201]

I blame Firestone Tires

[swwils]

Its a wonder a lot of people didn't get killed in thid accident.Those big trucks when they get moving are about un stoppable.The good lord was watching the monster trucks that day for sure!

[cj08015]

WHT ARE PEOPLE MAKING JOKES ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT? IT'S NOT FUNNY!!!

[olebd]

No more service from NAPA Auto Care for me.

[jdubs63]

OMG.............
BOYS WITH TOYS

[rushlimpdrug]

The good lord was watching the monster trucks that day for sure!
Posted by swwils

He likes to watch monster trucks?
Where is the tour headed next?

[ov442]

poor little girl and her mommy. :(
Anyone who prays, it would be a good idea to pray for them both.

[snowidow]

Poor NAPA, first they wind up with Mikey Waltrip, now this.

[snowidow]

Poor NAPA, first they wind up with Mikey Waltrip, now this.

[mrhoppy-2009]

Think of the monster truck as a Darwin's survival of the fittest delivery vehicle.

Only a moron would be attracted to such a stupid thing.

[doo58]

In hearing of this story, I immediately think of the dragster funny car that was demonstrating on a public roadway, earlier this year, and lost control ultimately crashing into the crowd standing alongside the road. I blame all three groups...Promoters, Drivers AND Crowds. It doesn't take much gray matter to realize these machines have great power for entertainment, as well as destruction. If the Promoter and Driver aren't smart enough to be cautious, then as always it's up to the everyday guy to watchout for himself! Hey Crowds...watch, listen, enjoy, but BACK UP!!!!

[gwagener]

So is the driver going to be charged or not?

[photogeezer]

Are we Americans the only people in the world who do such stupid things with motor vehicles as entertainment?

[eggy1620]

Maybe the driver decided it was a good day to go mullett hunting.

[nlm2383]

So is the driver going to be charged or not?
Posted by gwagener at 11:19 AM : Aug 10, 2007

Why? She chose to be there and knew what they were doing. Having a 4 year old child there is just stupid. Maybe cover their hospital bills, but no one should be charged.

[nothappyatall]

This is just stupidity at it's best, before the accident the truck came within 3 feet of spectators almost hitting tham, but that wasn't enough of a clue for the dumb sheeple lining the road too close to the action.

I notice the NAPA Auto parts sponsorship...

"Biernacki said the 44-year-old truck driver did not appear to be injured in the accident "

NO!! no kidding!!! I wouldn't imagine he would be, the guy in surrounded by a several ton steel truck as he drives over the bodies in the crowd.

[nothappyatall]

"Anyone who prays, it would be..."

...a waste of time, send flowers or send donations and then send NAPA a letter demanding they pull sponsorship of these dangerous 'stunts'
Much safer to watch it on TV

god doesnt bless people, the lord doesnt help people, and prayers dont work.

www.zeitgeistmovie.com
www.atheists.org
www.evilbible.com

[sal567]

I don't know who is more stupid - the driver or the watchers. And why bring children to these dumb events? What will they get out of it? I think it will scare them more than excite them. Those parents are plain irresponsible. I hope they think twice before exposing their kids to danger.

[jacksteen1]

NASCAR Nation. Ignorant dolts that wave the flag, support George Bush, and hang stupid yellow or red/white/blue stickers on their tailgates signifying solidarity with the Republiscum Party - - Jayzussssssssssssss and the flag - kill the kweers...to hell with the *******.....even tho that party has been trying to destroy them for the past thirty-plus years by their tax structures and their lies and corruption.

NASCAR Nation. Reap what you sow, Yellowhammers.

[russrob3]

to all you idiots posting only morons would like these things and attend it...and people shouldnt take there kids they wont like it...my KID was there and he LOVED it!!!! he was smiling and yelling truck the whole time!!!! it was suppost to be something fun to take your KIDS to see something people with out alot of money could take there kids to see!!! you are the morons

[rushlimpdrug]

to all you idiots posting only morons would like these things and attend it...and people shouldnt take there kids they wont like it...my KID was there and he LOVED it!!!! he was smiling and yelling truck the whole time!!!! . . . you are the morons
Posted by russrob3

I only ask that next time you don't let your kid drive the truck monster truck.

[bbrundj]

First, dune-buggies then ATV's. Now monster trucks. Can't kids just find a good book to read, or something safer? Daredevil 'toys' are death-traps. Graveyards are full of daredevil wanna-bees.