A Madison monster-truck show resulted in the tragic death of 41-year-old promoter George Eisenhart Jr., of Chardon, Ohio, after he stepped into the path of a monster truck during the event Saturday night.
Three deputies immediately responded to the Dane County Coliseum after the accident, and Eisenhart was rushed to a local hospital. He later died of major internal injuries after being crushed by the tires of the truck, which alone weigh approximately 600 pounds. There were no issues of distraction by the drivers, and Eisenhart was struck after walking into the obstructed vision of the driver.
The event that occurred Saturday evening was a rare accident and is uncharacteristic of the monster-truck show,"" Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said.
Detectives spoke to drivers Sunday morning about what occurred Saturday night. It appeared the drivers were utilizing safety measures during the event and Eisenhart was hit after entering the track when rules state that no individual is allowed on the floor during the event.
""This is a very, very tragic accident, and Eisenhart's wife and two daughters have been notified of the accident,"" Mahoney said.
A press conference was held Sunday to discuss Eisenhart's death and the death of a spectator at another monster-truck event last week in Washington that has attracted national attention.
""These deaths are freak occurrences and are uncharacteristic of the upbeat and positive environment of monster-truck shows,"" Mahoney said.
The audience Saturday night included many children who witnessed the event. Mahoney said that children should obtain care if they suffer from stress after the incident.
Sunday night's monster-truck show in Madison has been cancelled because of Saturday's accident.
