Halloween Event In South Coffeyville Turns Deadly

Sunday, October 29th 2006, 9:21 am

By: News On 6

SOUTH COFFEYVILLE, Okla. (AP) -- A man died after his head slammed into the side of a trailer as he bungee jumped out of a tree to frighten passengers on a Halloween-themed hay ride, authorities said.

Several hundred people were attending the Trail of Spooks Hay Rack Ride on Saturday night when 56 year old Frank Pfister of South Coffeyville was fatally injured.

"The cable that kept him suspended snapped," said Kassie Johnson, who was on the ride when the accident occurred. "At first I thought it was just a dummy falling out of the tree. The trailer bumped up in the air when he hit. Then everyone started screaming."

The Nowata County Sheriff's Department said Pfister was taken to the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center in Kansas, where he was pronounced dead.

Pfister, who was wearing a body harness, also hit a passenger's foot as he fell. The passenger was not seriously hurt and was treated at the scene.

Undersheriff Doug Sonenberg said the investigation was not complete.

"But right now it looks like a tragic accident," he said.

The mile-and-a-half-long trail, which was open Friday and Saturday, raises money for the community's volunteer fire department. Kester was among more than 100 volunteers who participated.