An Oregon rodeo took a dangerous turn on Saturday when a bull vaulted the fence into the crowd, injuring three attendees.
“Officials reported that while two individuals sustained minor injuries from direct contact, a social media video captures a woman being flipped into the air and trampled by the bull. She was transported to the hospital for a leg injury but was quickly released,” reported KOIN 6 News. “Another injured person was a Deschutes County sergeant who injured his knee.”
— 6ixBuzzTV (@6ixbuzztv) June 10, 2024
“I captured him completely going over the gate and disappearing,” she said. “Then there’s this huge pause in the zone he came out of. It seems like people go right back to waving their lights, almost like they’re not really sure what to do.”
Smithers stated she would “definitely go back” to the Sisters Rodeo despite the incident.
“I recognize that this is one of those situations where you take a risk, whether it be at an amusement park, a rodeo, or even a zoo. You’re always accepting the risk,” she said.
NOT THAT BULLISH!! Bull named “Party Bus” jumped the fence and ran down a lady, flipping her into the air and trampling her. Another individual experienced similar injuries.
The two victims were rushed to the hospital and are expected to recover. #rodeo pic.twitter.com/1IuHCrW5Uv
— Jim Yang (@bionicleap77) June 10, 2024
“We managed to open the appropriate gates so the bull could exit the spectator area, and it was immediately contained afterward,” he said.
“Incidents like this happen about once a year in the industry,” he added. “But this was a first for us.”
Smithers suggested to Koin 6 News that the rodeo should consider implementing a siren system to warn attendees in such situations.
“Having some form of siren or an announcement at the beginning of the event stating, ‘If you hear this tone, please stop whatever you’re doing,’” she said. “We had been listening to the announcer all night. So I think if you’re engrossed in a conversation, you’re not paying attention to what they’re saying.”