Woman Knocked Unconscious By Wal-Mart Shoppers

WKMG Orlando ^ | November 28, 2003

[Shermy]

ORANGE CITY, Fla. -- A 41-year-old woman was knocked unconscious and then trampled by a mob of shoppers who continued to step over her as she suffered a seizure during a Friday sale at Wal-Mart in Orange City, Fla., according to Local 6 News.

Authorities said that Patricia Van Lester arrived at Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. for an early sale on a DVD player for her mother. When the store's doors opened at 6 a.m., Van Lester grabbed the DVD player but was quickly overcome by hundreds of shoppers rushing into the store.

The woman was knocked to the ground, slammed her head on the ground and suffered at least one seizure, according to Local 6 News.

Her sister watched the incident and tried to stop the crowd as they made their way to the merchandise.

"I screamed, 'Stop, don't step on her, my sister is on the ground,' and nobody would listen," the woman's sister, Linda Ellzey said. "I've never seen so many people in a store at one time -- in one area. If there was a fire, nobody could've gotten out of there."

When paramedics arrived at the scene, they found the woman lying on top of the DVD player among shoppers who seemed to not even notice the unconscious woman on the floor, according to a witness.

Van Lester was airlifted to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach. Ellzey said her sister will likely remain hospitalized for days.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

[Shermy]

Watch your step.

[Samwise]

Clean up in aisle 10.

[Dog Gone]

I'd love to see a composite IQ test of the people who line up at 3 a.m. at a Wal-Mart.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

No wonder I hate shopping.
This incident sort of redefines the meaning of the "holiday spirit" doesn't it?

[snippy_about_it]

LOL!

[truthkeeper]

This is complete lunacy. If I ever participate in that kind of "shopping," I pray someone would do me a favor and just shoot me.

Disgusting.

[Vesuvian]

At least they didn't grab her dvd player.

[SouthernFreebird]

LMAO.....been there done that.

[Indy Pendance]

Happy Holidays!

[BlueNgold]

White trash and proud of it BUMP!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Retail ping.

(People are NUTS. This poor woman.)

[I still care]

I didn't go to Walmart at 3, but I did go to Lowe's at 7. I got an over the range microwave for $99.

Every year I swear I won't participate in the mess, and every year there is some bargain I can't resist.

Unfortunately, I usually run out of money by 7:30 am.

[Cicero]

She held onto the DVD player, like a football player falling into the end zone, but it doesn't say whether they let her take it with her to the hospital.

[k2blader]

Good grief. This is the kind of story that makes me almost understand the PETA-types. Almost.

[JennysCool]

Happy Holidays!

It will be, for her, once deep-pocket Wal-Mart coughs up the settlement.

[mrfixit514]

My wife and I went to a Wal-Mart sale at 4 AM two years ago and we quickly realized we had made a big mistake. It was brutal. We won't make the same mistake again.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

They are especially nuts in Orange City. Sis lives there, I grew up (and live) nearby. Overall this County is a madhouse right now, between stupid shoppers and the Turkey Run at the Speedway.

[I still care]

Hmmm. I wonder what she paid for it?

[Pappy Smear]

Was reading an online news story about the Walmart in Charleston WV. They sold 1200 of these $30 DVD players in 14 minutes. Holy crap!

I wonder if this trampled person was the greeter. Walmart needed to hire that dude that used to do the Federal Express commercials to say "Hi, welcome to Walmart" to every person stampeding thru the doors.