CLICK TO SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

Starbulletin.com


Monday, February 11, 2002




art
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
This scaffold with a banner, at the entrance to the Topps NFL Experience, is similar to one that blew over yesterday near an exhibition tent.



Scaffold topples
at football event

4 people are hurt as a gust of
wind upsets the structure


By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com

Four people were injured yesterday when a strong gust of wind blew a metal scaffold on top of them at the Topps NFL Experience at Fort DeRussy in Waikiki. All four, three adults and a 4 1/2-year-old boy, were taken by ambulance to Queen's Medical Center.

The NFL Experience is an annual event that runs in conjunction with the Pro Bowl, which was played Saturday at Aloha Stadium.


art
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Private security and event organizers began their own investigation yesterday at the base of a scaffold that blew over in the wind at the Topps NFL Experience at Fort DeRussy.



The incident happened just after 3 p.m. as a crowd stood near a stage area where some professional football players were signing autographs, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.

"It was like in slow motion," said Jeff Kagihara, who was working at a booth called AndyPak when the scaffold went down.

"The whole tent was shaking," said Kagihara. "There was a big gust of wind."

People immediately lifted the scaffold after it pinned the four victims to the ground, he said.

Three males, between 20 and 30 years old, suffered back, head and shoulder injures. A nursing supervisor at Queen's listed them in fair condition.

The boy was unconscious for a short time but was later revived, Soo said. Medical staff said the child suffered a small bump to the head. After initially being taken to Queen's, the boy was transferred later in stable condition to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

The NFL Experience ran from Thursday through yesterday across from the Hale Koa Hotel.

"We've had high winds here since we've been here," said Bill Barron, who organized the event.

"Our biggest concern is the well-being of the people," Barron said.

The names of the victims were not available.



E-mail to City Desk


Text Site Directory:
[News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Do It Electric!]
[Classified Ads] [Search] [Subscribe] [Info] [Letter to Editor]
[Feedback]



© 2002 Honolulu Star-Bulletin
https://archives.starbulletin.com