A tragic accident occurred on Sunday morning at a high school track and field meet held at the University of Colorado’s Colorado Springs campus. According to UCCS spokesperson Chris Valentine, a man who was spectating at the Mountain Lion Fieldhouse was killed when a hammer weight thrown by a participant went beyond the designated safety barriers and struck him.
The hammer throw event involves athletes hurling a metal weight attached to a chain and grip as far as possible by generating momentum through spinning in a circle. Unfortunately, in this instance, the weight went off course and resulted in a fatal accident.
Emergency services, including the Colorado Springs Fire Department, UCCS personnel, and Colorado Springs police officers, responded to the scene immediately after the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. Despite the efforts of paramedics to provide medical care, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet expressed deep sorrow over the tragic accident, stating, “We are heartbroken at this horrible accident and are focused on supporting all involved.”
The track meet was part of a three-meet series for club sport high school students from across the state, with the first meet taking place on December 15, 2024. The identity of the deceased man will be released at a later date by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office.
This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to safety protocols and ensuring that proper precautions are in place during athletic events to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
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