Post by DiggerFan on Sept 25, 2010 22:54:38 GMT -5
Crash may doom 'monster trucks'
The Modesto Bee (Modesto, CA)
(Page B-1)
Tuesday, May 12, 1987
By JIM McCLUNG
Bee staff writer
An accident saturday night at the Stanislaus County Fairground could mean the end of the "monster truck" shows there.
Four children were injured when a truck in the show crashed into a fence.
One of the children, Shalan Ramsey, 7, of Modesto, suffered a broken leg. The other children suffered minor injuries.
John Borba, operator of John Borba Presents in Turlock, which produces the truck shows nation wide, said Monday that because of the injury to Ramsey - and the potential legal problems - he does not plan to bring his show to Turlock again.
"This is the first accident I have had since I've been in this business," said Borba, who has produced the shows for eight years at stadiums around the country. "I'm sure this will lead to legal problems."
A packed house of 4,600 spectators viewed the big truck pulling and climbing shows at the fairground Friday and Saturday.
About 11 p.m. Saturday, a truck named "No Problem" rammed the steel fence surrounding the arena, knocking it atop Ramsey and the other children sitting in the bleachers, according to Turlock police officer Amos Reyes.
David and Rhonda Ramsey were sitting in the stadium seats with their children, Shalan and David Jr., 4. The girl was sitting in front in the second row.
Young Ramsey was with Angelina Gray, 8, Shanney Bennett, 5, and Jackie Jones, 9.
David Ramsey said he watched as the big truck struck the chain fence and pushed it down onto his daughter. He said he beat on the truck's hood and ordered the driver to back up.
The driver, John K. Moore, 41, a professional truck performer, backed his truck away from the fence and went to get help, according to Ramsey.
How the girl's leg was broken has not been resolved.
Ramsey said her leg was mashed by one of the truck tires that came to a stop on the downed fence.
Borba, who said he has a videotape of the accident, contends that this is not so.
He said the girl could have suffered the injury when she was trampled by other spectators trying to get away from the oncoming truck.
Borba said he had turned the tape over to his insurance company Monday afternoon and it was no longer available for viewing.
He said the tape reveals that a malfunction in the rear of the truck caused it to pivot into the fence.
Bob Walker, general manager of the fairground, which reaped $8,000 in rentals from Borba for the weekend, said the accident was the first in eight years.
Walker said he was satisfied with the way Borba has run the shows, "although we are never satisfied with an accident."
The Modesto Bee (Modesto, CA)
(Page B-1)
Tuesday, May 12, 1987
By JIM McCLUNG
Bee staff writer
An accident saturday night at the Stanislaus County Fairground could mean the end of the "monster truck" shows there.
Four children were injured when a truck in the show crashed into a fence.
One of the children, Shalan Ramsey, 7, of Modesto, suffered a broken leg. The other children suffered minor injuries.
John Borba, operator of John Borba Presents in Turlock, which produces the truck shows nation wide, said Monday that because of the injury to Ramsey - and the potential legal problems - he does not plan to bring his show to Turlock again.
"This is the first accident I have had since I've been in this business," said Borba, who has produced the shows for eight years at stadiums around the country. "I'm sure this will lead to legal problems."
A packed house of 4,600 spectators viewed the big truck pulling and climbing shows at the fairground Friday and Saturday.
About 11 p.m. Saturday, a truck named "No Problem" rammed the steel fence surrounding the arena, knocking it atop Ramsey and the other children sitting in the bleachers, according to Turlock police officer Amos Reyes.
David and Rhonda Ramsey were sitting in the stadium seats with their children, Shalan and David Jr., 4. The girl was sitting in front in the second row.
Young Ramsey was with Angelina Gray, 8, Shanney Bennett, 5, and Jackie Jones, 9.
David Ramsey said he watched as the big truck struck the chain fence and pushed it down onto his daughter. He said he beat on the truck's hood and ordered the driver to back up.
The driver, John K. Moore, 41, a professional truck performer, backed his truck away from the fence and went to get help, according to Ramsey.
How the girl's leg was broken has not been resolved.
Ramsey said her leg was mashed by one of the truck tires that came to a stop on the downed fence.
Borba, who said he has a videotape of the accident, contends that this is not so.
He said the girl could have suffered the injury when she was trampled by other spectators trying to get away from the oncoming truck.
Borba said he had turned the tape over to his insurance company Monday afternoon and it was no longer available for viewing.
He said the tape reveals that a malfunction in the rear of the truck caused it to pivot into the fence.
Bob Walker, general manager of the fairground, which reaped $8,000 in rentals from Borba for the weekend, said the accident was the first in eight years.
Walker said he was satisfied with the way Borba has run the shows, "although we are never satisfied with an accident."