Promoter Dies in Monster Truck Accident

[The Straight Story]

Promoter Dies in Monster Truck Accident

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A promoter for the Motor Sports Monster Truck and Thrill Show has died from injuries in an accident at an event in Madison, Wisconsin. It's the second fatality at a monster truck event nine days.

The county coroner says 41-year-old George Eisenhart Jr. of Chardon, Ohio, died after the accident last night at the Dane County Coliseum. A witness tells the Wisconsin State Journal that Eisenhart walked out in front of one of the monster trucks just as it was about to pass by.

The death comes just over a week after 6-year-old Sebastian Hizey died at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash. He was struck in the head by a Frisbee-sized chunk of metal that tore off a truck doing doughnuts during the Monster Jam show, which is run by a different company.

http://www.news10.net/news/national/story.aspx?storyid=53764&catid=5

[DemoTex]

1. They had a "Monster Truck" event at the Bi-Lo Arena in Greenville last night.

How big is this type of entertainment?

BTW: We opted for the symphony.

[LiberalinNC]

6. There was a monster truck show in Raleigh yesterday

I don't "get" these shows :crazy:

[Warpy]

8. No, but little boys seem to love them

I have a lot of friends who caved to their clamoring and emerged with monster headaches but happy kids.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. little boys love TV wrestling also.

[hlthe2b]

2. I will never understand the Monster Truck phenom...

Is there no other way to get that testosterone boost in our society? Sorry, but that's the way I feel. An incredible disgusting waste... At least with racing, there is skill involved with drivers, car builders and crews.

[DemoTex]

3. "Converters"

Converting fuel into noise.

[johncoby2]

5. Ive been to one.

Cant say I enjoyed it much. I mean what is the lure? Pretty lame entertainment, although for $10 what can you say?

[hlthe2b]

11. I can't imagine it is very healthy... no matter the size of venue...

these are mostly enclosed spaces--with all that dust, soot, exhaust being kicked up? Even if nothing blows off one of those monsters to kill you, as happened recently with the little 6 yo. boy, it hardly seems like a risk-free "entertainment."

[ZombieHorde]

12. " Is there no other way to get that testosterone boost in our society?"

I watch Godzilla movies with my kids.

[hlthe2b]

14. heh, heh...

less ozone and exhaust fumes, for sure...;)

[ZombieHorde]

15. Except for the American made Godzilla,

Godzilla movies have a very strong pro-environmental message. Their great propaganda for children.

[jmowreader]

17. Those trucks are works of art, believe it or not

The drivers' skill is fairly close to drag racing--you need to be able to hit the car in just a certain way so you won't flip the truck. Besides, it's fun: who HASN'T wanted to just drive over the top of that moran who sits there at the intersection for five minutes because he wants to get in the left lane, even though the right lane hasn't had a car in it since he pulled up to the stop sign? Driving over morans is the whole point of monster truck racing! Little boys love monster trucks because they're larger than life. They're ten feet tall, they have great graphics and fun stories behind them. What the hell. Tournament bass fishermen burn more fuel than monster trucks do, and so far I haven't seen anyone here complain about them.

Given that, monster truck racing used to be a lot more fun than it now is. They used to have these real intricate courses where you had to go round 'n' round, make several jumps and display a lot of driving skill. Now it's all straight line.

[DJ13]

4. ....walked out in front of one of the monster trucks

That was pretty stupid.

[jmowreader]

18. I was waiting for someone to point that out

This was your basic pedestrian-vehicle accident. The only thing that makes it any different is it was at the monster truck show he was running. It's not like he didn't know there's no visibility out of one of those things.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

7. What Price Entertainment?

After the Tacoma child was struck and killed by flying wreckage, the promoters held a moment of silence before the next show.

[Lint Head]

10. Testosterone is an addictive drug.

:dem:

[Hawkowl]

13. Not called MONSTERS for nuthin ..nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. Watch for low hanging TruckNutz.

[TiaCarrera]

19. The tragic incident is being caught on tape

Unfortunately these kinds of shows attract tens of thousands of fans, mostly kids, in my opinion. I remember when I was about 10 I used to sit in front of the TV with my brother staring and praising all those mega huge cool-looking trucks.. But our parents never allowed us to go see one live. I'm so sorry for the promoter, he left two daughters and a wife.. (video of the accident a second before the crash) http://www.mayomo.com/38319-monster-truck-promoter-killed-at-show
I wonder why should any people be let walking unprotected on the arena?? And why aren't there any nets to protect the audience? And why are small kids allowed to such dangerous events? :(