Posted on 01/17/2007 5:33:52 AM PST by SpringheelJack
A California radio station has fired 10 employees, including five on-air personalities, after Jennifer Strange, a mother of three, died following her participation in a 'Hold your wee for a Wii' competition, reports the Sacramento Bee. The 28-year-old died of water intoxication having consumed an estimated two gallons of water in an attempt to win a Nintendo console for her children. The winner of the contest was to be the person who managed to drink the most water without going to the bathroom.
Strange called into her office after the show and told a co-worker that she had a "really bad" headache and would be going straight home. She was found dead in her Rancho Cordova home on Friday afternoon by her mother, who had gone to check on her after being contacted by the concerned co-worker.
The DJs had made comments joking about people dying from water intoxication during the show, according to the Sacramento Bee. There was even a discussion about a "poor kid in college"--presumably Matthew Carrington, who also died from water intoxication after a fraternity hazing ritual. One person dismissed the link by saying, "Yeah, well, he was doing other things." During the show, one DJ also admitted, "Maybe we should have researched this."
Two hours in to the contest, a female caller, who identified herself as Eva, phoned in to warn the radio station that drinking too much water can kill. She said, "Those people that are drinking all that water can get sick and possibly die from water intoxication." One DJ replied, "We are aware of that," while another added, "They signed releases, so we're not responsible. It's ok."
Twenty contestants took part in the competition, including Strange, who was the runner-up. Other participants said that they became concerned when one woman lay on the ground, with her teeth chattering, and looking pale. At one point Strange was lying on the ground, but told staff that she "could probably drink more" if someone could pick her up.
Despite the sackings, the Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness said that there would not be a criminal investigation. He said, "It's not as if she was somehow in their custody and they had a role to care for her. Rather, it was an invitation to a contest that was clearly ill-advised. She was exercising her free will."
A notice on the radio station's Web site stated that an investigation was underway. It reads, "First and foremost, our thoughts and sympathies go out to Jennifer's family and loved ones. I also want to assure you that the circumstances regarding this matter are being examined as thoroughly as possible. We are doing everything we can to deal with this difficult situation in a manner that is both respectful and responsible."
Yep .. and they will win this case
Dozens of Sacramento area lawyers are rubbing their hands and saying, "Wanna bet?"
Not necessarily. I am sure you have read in court decisions when prenups were thrown out, this can be too.
Criminal charges please.
"There's something so tragic about someone's life sold for so cheap while onlookers laugh."
No doubt. There are some many other horrific things going on that this doesn't quite seem to compare.
Putting a gun to someone's head is not an element an involuntary manslaughter. The question probably comes down to whether it was the employees actions that caused the death or was it the actions of the individual. The employees created the environment for the action to occur, but since it was not their actions directly that resulted in the death they may be off the hook. If a DA wanted to, he could probably persue a case.
A guy told me he worked at a n-plant in Canada. Gatorade was provided in his area because of the heat and high water consumption.
On the books here there is the offence of "Criminal negligence causing death or grievous bodily harm". It most often comes up in motor vehicle accidents, but basically it applies when one can reasonably foresee that a course of action could be fatal. I'm pretty sure that there are similar laws in other jurisdictions.
Maybe I'm just insensitive but it sounds to me like there were 11 idiots involved in this escapade,10 at the radio station and 1 who killed herself for a stinking NINTENDO,pitiful !!!
If stupidity were illegal in this country about half the population would be behind bars and every state Capitol building would be a maximum security prison.
Actually it makes perfect sense to me. Anything you drink in excess is bad for you. Whether it is alcoholic drinks or not
White girl.
Sadly, on this suppoedly conservative/libertarian site, Eyes Unclouded seems to be the only one who understands this........
Thornton Wilder has a great line in "The Matchmaker" which pretty well sums things up: "Ninty percent of the people in this world are fools, and the rest of us are in great danger of contamination."
I would think that if the people running the contest were aware of what could go wrong and did not disclose it to the contestants it would be a problem. People familiar with the illness called in and were rebuffed, and the article states that when contestants showed symptoms of illness, nothing was done to either help them or stop the contest. Also, since the station people knew the potential problems, the contestants should have been monitored for a period of time afterward to make sure there were no problems.
If you hold a contest and know of possible health risks, it is up to you to disclose the risks and to offer aid to the participants should they occur. My husband races dirt bikes, we sign waivers to get into the race, but they supply an ambulance and medical team in case anything goes wrong. I believe that will be the difference. The station knowing a possible risk, not making sure there was medical aid and perhaps not even disclosing the concern to the participants.
And turkeys could fly
.....and may i add.....
.....well said.....
.....in todays' "I'll Sue!" climate.....
.....the idiots that held this contest.....
.....will never work "on air" ever again.....
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