Posted on 01/17/2007 7:32:59 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a 28-year-old mother of three who died after taking part in a radio station's water-drinking contest.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department decided to pursue the investigation Wednesday after listening to a tape of the Jan. 12 morning radio show obtained by The Sacramento Bee, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran said.
On the tape, disc jockeys on KDND-FM's "Morning Rave" show joke about the possible dangers of consuming too much water, at one point even alluding to a Northern California college student who died during a similar hazing stunt in 2005.
During the show, a listener calls in to warn the DJs that the stunt is dangerous and says someone could die.
"Yeah, we're aware of that," one of them says.
Another DJ laughs: "Yeah, they signed releases, so we're not responsible. We're OK."
"And if they get to the point where they have to throw up, then they're going to throw up, and they're out of the contest before they die, so that's good, right?" another one says.
Jennifer Lea Strange was one of about 18 contestants who tried to win a Nintendo Wii gaming console by determining how much water they could drink without going to the bathroom. The show's DJs called the contest "Hold your Wee for a Wii."
"Hey Carter, is anybody dying in there?" a DJ asks during the show. "We got a guy who's just about to die," the other responds, and all the DJs laugh.
"I like that we laugh about that," another says.
"Make sure he signs the release. ... Get the insurance on that, please."
Strange took part in the contest during the morning in the radio station's studio and was found dead that afternoon. The Sacramento County coroner said preliminary autopsy findings indicate she died of water intoxication.
Other contestants said Strange may have ingested up to two gallons of water. Several hours into the contest, Strange was interviewed on the air and complained that her head hurt.
"They keep telling me that it's the water. That it will tell my head to hurt and then it will make me puke," she says.
"Who told you that? The intern?" a DJ asks.
"Yeah," Strange responds. "It hurts, but it makes you feel lightheaded."
"This is what it feels like when you're drowning," one of the DJs says. "There's a lot of water inside you."
Eventually, Strange gave in and decided to accept the second-place prize, tickets to a Justin Timberlake concert. She commented that she looked pregnant, and a female DJ agreed.
"Oh, my gosh, look at that belly. That's full of water," a male DJ said. "Come on over, Jennifer, you OK?" the DJ asks. "You going to pass out right now? Too much water?"
Strange tells the talk show hosts that she could "probably drink more if you guys could pick me up."
On Tuesday, KDND's parent company, Entercom/Sacramento, fired 10 employees connected to the contest, including three morning disc jockeys. The company also took the morning show off the air.
Station spokesman Charles Sipkins said Wednesday that the company had not yet heard from the sheriff's department.
"We will, of course, cooperate with their investigation," Sipkins said.
He added that the station also is examining the circumstances surrounding Strange's death.
"We're trying to do everything we can to deal with it in a respectful and responsible way," he said.
Curran said sheriff's investigators will be interviewing all radio station employees who were involved in the contest and everyone who was working there on the day of the contest. He said the investigation will take several weeks.
Lucy Davidson, who placed first in the radio station contest, told Larry King Live on CNN Wednesday that she was very sick after participating.
"I was barely able to make it home. My head was as big as probably three basketballs. It was very, very painful," Davidson said.
In a prepared statement last weekend, Strange's husband, William, described his wife's generous nature and outgoing personality.
"Friday, Jennifer was just her bright, usual self," he said. "She was trying to win something for her family that she thought we would enjoy."
On Wednesday, attorneys for the Strange family said they planned to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the radio station on behalf of her husband and three children. Details of the suit were to be announced Thursday.
Just damn!
I never knew you could die from drinking too much water, and I'm a smart guy. Well, that's because I'm a FReeper, and always learning something here.
Still, who is more responsible, the radio station or the person drinking all that water?
Think how bad it has to be for the kids to know their mom died trying to win them a Nintendo, that's horrible.
who is more responsible, the radio station or the person drinking all that water?
--
Let me ask..
without the contest, who dies?
I expect a healthy settlement in time, signed waiver or not.
I'd personally like to see some jail time for the idiots caught on tape and on the air with their cutesy comments.
Yeah, sure... Tell me you've prohibited your lawyers from smearing the victim's character in court.
Of course, must file the wrongful death lawsuit. We must not have any personal responsibility. It is NOT about the money, you understand.
good Answer NR
http://www.sacbee.com/static/newsroom/kdndslides/
link to audio excerpts of contest
they apparently were well aware of the dangers and showed a callous disregard for human life. Chrage 'em with that.
Not looking good for those radio people. Just a day ago the county sheriff was being interviewed poo-pooing any idea of criminal charges. That broadcast tape has really churned up a lot of disgust.
Thanks for posting that!
It completely changed my opinion.
Anybody who hasn't listened to it should.
Reminds me of what I read about the dance marathon contests during the Great Depression when people despearate for cash would pass out on the dance floor. Can't recall ever reading of someone dying, though.
Though I was on a conservative site, but looks like nothing but liberals posting on this topic so far.
No one MADE her drink water. Personal responsibility is just so 20th century, I guess. She was an adult, who made a decision that cost her life. And some here blame the radio station.
Freaking lawyers WILL be the end of this country yet!
Hell yes. They set up a contest and failed to provide minimal safeguards, laughed off the threat to life, and even told these contestants a bunch of BS about how if they did drink too much, their body would just throw it up and then all would be fine. You're not talking about personal responsibility. You're talking about giving people a free pass for negligence and an indifference to other people's safety that borders on criminal.
I disagree. If a 28 year old is drinking so much water, they feel sick and then KEEP on going, then I say its their own damn fault.
28 years old is an adult.
I too believe in personal responsibilty. But the law does allow for situations that are not so clear; its called contributory negligence. The radio station didn't force the woman to drink exessive water but they did contribute to the situation.
This one poor kid did just that, fell ill half-way throught a grueling day out in the Texas brush country at Lackland AFB, his temperature soared to about 106 degrees, he passed out, and by the time they got him to the hospital he was dead.
Drinking a lot of water is not something that the average person would associate with a life-threatening consequence like drinking a lot of alcohol.
The idiots who came up with this stunt had the responsibility to conduct it in a safe way, but they obviously didn't know that too much water can kill you either.
Guess what? TOUGH. The buck stops WITH THEM.
So, if all your friends said they were gonna jump off a bridge, you'd do it too?
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