Monster Truck Plows Into Crowd Of Spectators

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) _ A monster truck performing stunts in front of an auto parts store plowed into a crowd of spectators Thursday, injuring at least nine people, officials said. <br/><br/>All were in fair

Thursday, August 9th 2007, 5:31 pm

By: News On 6

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) _ A monster truck performing stunts in front of an auto parts store plowed into a crowd of spectators Thursday, injuring at least nine people, officials said.

All were in fair condition at hospitals, and one person was being evaluated for possible admission, said Sharon Emanuelson, a spokeswoman for Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb.

Another three people refused medical treatment, Fire Chief Lanny Russell told The Daily Chronicle of DeKalb.

As part of the demonstration in a monster truck tour sponsored by Napa Auto Parts, the truck drove over and crushed four cars.

``After its third or fourth attempt of rolling over the cars, and getting back down to the street, it appeared to have lost control and at that point careened off to the left into part of the crowd that was watching the event,'' said City Manager Mark Biernacki.

After plowing through the crowd, the truck went through a fence and stopped on railroad tracks, Biernacki said.

The truck driver did not appear to be injured, Biernacki said.

``There was just this sound of steel crunching,'' DeKalb resident James Vesely said. ``I ran over to see if it hit anybody's car, and I saw a woman and a little girl around 3 years old lying on the ground with dirt on them.''

Napa officials at the scene declined to comment to the newspaper.

The Associated Press left a phone message for a spokesman for Napa's parent company, and the telephone at the auto parts store near the accident site was busy. DeKalb police would not immediately comment.

The manager of a bicycle shop on the block where the accident happened said he didn't see the incident but saw the truck performing stunts beforehand, and estimated at least 100 people were watching.

``It looked very precarious,'' said Tobie DePauw, manager of North Central Cyclery.