Woman Dies After Seeing Fake Spears

Thursday, June 15th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ENDWELL, N.Y. (AP) â€” A radio station's attempt to generate excitement by faking an appearance by Britney Spears ended when a woman in a crowd at the station collapsed. She died later at a hospital.

Broome County sheriff's investigators said that after a purported interview with Spears on Tuesday night at WMRV-FM, a woman pretending to be Spears emerged from the station to get into a limousine. About 100 people had gathered to greet her.

Police said a 37-year-old woman went into cardiac arrest and was taken to a hospital. The woman, whose name was not released, died Wednesday afternoon, sheriff's detective Jason Ellis said. An autopsy was planned.

A man who identified himself as the station manager but declined to give his name said he was ``just trying to focus on the woman.''

``We're trying to figure out what happened,'' he said, declining to comment further.