Monster truck crushes promoter at event

[Kelvin Mace]

Source: CNN

A monster truck show promoter, who days earlier touted his event's safety record, died after being crushed by one of the trucks during a show in Madison, Wisconsin, Saturday night.

George Eisenhart's death was the second fatality at a monster truck event in just over a week.

"Saturday's incident, which is an uncommon occurrence, ... was a freak accident," Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said Sunday.

Eisenhart, 41, died eight days after a 6-year-old boy was killed by flying debris at a monster truck show in Tacoma, Washington. The shows were staged by different promoters.

[GodlessBiker]

1. People actually pay money to see those things?

[Kelvin Mace]

5. Apparently

though I have no idea why.

[Aristus]

12. Got to keep the rednecks out in the provinces amused, now.

Lynchings and the public firehosing of black people just don't draw the crowds like they used to.

[AlbertCat]

14. You don't find comically big muddy tires sexy?????

[mwb970]

18. I might go to *one*.

Just to see what I was scorning. But I don't have my heart set on it or anything.

[tularetom]

2. Yeah, there IS a God!

Same thought occurred to me.

[Sultana]

3. Well, dayum!

[ecstatic]

4. Based on him defending the safety of the shows, it does

sound like some karma was involved. How weird. It confirms my suspicious that nothing happens by accident.

"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.

[Kelvin Mace]

6. *sigh*

I wish it was true evidence of divine intervention, but I know better. But, as a coincidence, it is a wickedly Karmic one. If people are going to encourage this kind of nonsense...

[Javaman]

22. there it is, his failing was not promptly knocking on wood! LOL nt

[struggle4progress]

7. " ... George Eisenhart Jr. stepped into the path of a truck ... "

http://www.wtte28.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.oh/26648b6c-www.wtte28.com.shtml

"It's so safe I don't need to pay attention!" is not a recommended point-of-view

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. Maybe the swinging TruckNutz got him when it passed overhead

[Zhade]

11. Those things are so fucking stupid -- I instantly think less of anyone with those on their truck.

NT!

[Shiver]

9. Woah

I almost considered thinking about contemplating the idea of going to that show...

[Pharaoh]

15. almost considered

thinking about contemplating? :rofl:

[truthisfreedom]

10. My heart goes out to his family and friends. He was running a business, keeping people employed,

doing what he loved, and was accidentally killed. Tragic.

[Kelvin Mace]

19. Bread and circuses

He was trading on the lowest human impulses, and then lying about it being safe.

I am sorry he's dead, but he chose the life, and chose to make money off of it. There was nothing noble about his job.

[Xithras]

21. And how exactly was he lying?

Until a week ago, they had operated for 16 years without any injuries. As he stated, the worst accident was someone injured when they tripped. It's tragic that a kid got killed in the stands, but one serious incident in 16 years qualifies as a fluke and not evidence of an inherent danger. More people die every year from lightening strikes while walking, and we don't consider walking to be a high-risk activity.

I think the shows are just as stupid as tractor pulls and destruction derbies, but not everyone is entertained by Hollywood pablum and the opera, so I don't begrudge people their harmless fun. We're not talking about gladiator fights here, we're talking about watching big machines drive over the top of little ones. The numbers support his claim that it was a safe activity, but that claim doesn't take away from the very real tragedy surrounding the childs death. His claim doesn't in ANY way make his own fate "deserved". The only thing HIS death proves is that you MUST pay attention when working or operating dangerous machinery.

[Javaman]

23. stop making sense in a thread full of false hysteria, will you? nt

[Kelvin Mace]

35. These things simply aren't safe

The fact that they have been lucky this long in no way means this is safe.

Again, this is Bread & Circuses. Mindless destruction to entertain the masses. It wastes fueld, resources, and now two human lives.

[Ian David]

13. Oh dear god... the things are coming alive and seeking their revenge! n/t

[slackmaster]

16. Tragic waste of life

Those events are too loud and too dangerous for my taste.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

17. One less Bush supporter.

[kestrel91316]

20. I note with some irony that it wasn't a spectator, nor a driver, nor

a site crew member........NOOOOOOOOO. It was the PROMOTER.

God hath spoken. People best listen.

[John Q. Citizen]

25. I think it can be very easily done. We'll put some bleachers up in the sun, and

hold it out on Highway 61.

[Alcibiades]

24. Took my four year old to one of these on Saturday

He had a great time. I know I'm supposed to be taking him to the opera or the symphony, but he had a great time.

The most dangerous part was probably the drive home on I-40.

[Kelvin Mace]

36. I seldom attend Opera

(only Gilbert & Sullivan), and we don't see many symphonies these days, but there are pleanty of other things to do that aren't high brow, that doesn't involve mindless destruction.

But, if that's your cup of tea, Battlebots comes to mind. :)

At least they take safety way more seriously

[Alcibiades]

43. Most of the folks I saw there were with their kids

Some of the comments about monster trucks being stupid--well, yes, yes they are. There was even a gratuitously sexist bit in there wherein they threw in a pretty girl as a prize.

It appeared to me they had six junkers that they crushed. Said junkers being made of steel, and hence recyclable, the most wasteful thing about the event was probably the gas. All in all, far less stupid than football, and probably less dangerous, too.

[liberal N proud]

26. A local station interviewed an woman who saw it...

She was griping because her child had to see it happen.

Like she didn't know accidents could happen when you attend these things. DUH!

[elocs]

27. Sorry, but by no stretch is this Latest Breaking News. n/t

[Kelvin Mace]

37. The article has today's date

so how is it not breaking news?

[Roland99]

28. Geez, people. Some pretty sick sentiments in here. A man is dead for crying out loud.

Whether you like that type of entertainment or not he was just a person like any of us.


Good gawd this place gets on my nerves sometimes.

[truthisfreedom]

29. No doubt. There's a lot of angry out-of-work people on this board with nothing but time

on their hands.

Go volunteer somewhere. Do some good. Stop all the hate!

[Kelvin Mace]

39. No hate on my part

I simply noted the irony and Karma.

[Kelvin Mace]

38. As I said elsewhere

I am sorry he is dead, but there was nothing noble about his line of work.

[HopeHoops]

30. Irony in action

It is sad, almost as much as the 6-year old, but clearly ironic.

[hornblast]

31. This thread has 30 (now 31) replies so far.

Not sayin' anything, but I'm just sayin'.....

[undeterred]

32. And aside from the fact that the tragedy happened here

it has nothing to do with Madison or Wisconsin. It could have happened anywhere.

[Roland99]

33. It was posted in LBN and moved here.

[undeterred]

34. I know.

We don't get this many visitors.

[Kelvin Mace]

40. I have no idea why

an article from today's news was deemed "not LBN".

[PeaceNikki]

41. The comments on this article are shockingly disgusting.

Yours included.

[dembotoz]

42. have 3 sons, each went thru a monster truck phase

been to those
been to tractor pulls
been to demolition derbies

Nice clean family centered activiity
Generally well run.

That some posters above disapprove makes me just feel
sorry for them