Injuries are a part of the game in any sport.
They’re also becoming a part of the game for fans, especially this year.
Injury was added to insult when fans paying money to see scrubs in an NFL preseason finale were struck by a falling bolt at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Three people were injured at the game between the Bengals and Colts. Two were taken to a hospital, but none of the injuries were life-threatening. The bolt was the size of a “half-roll of quarters” according to The Indianapolis Star.
Fans at other incidents around the world in 2015 weren’t so fortunate.
Fans killed at auto race in Spain
Spectators take a big risk at rally races, in which cars navigate actual roads that are closed off to the public. Fans are just feet away from these cars, and on Saturday six were killed and 16 injured when a car veered off-course and plowed into a crowd at The Rally de A Caruña in Spain.
Two of the victims were pregnant women, one of whom was due to give birth Monday, according to inquisitr.com. Ana Cayazzo and her partner, Miguel Caridad, decided to attend the race at the last minute. Caridad also was killed.
Another pregnant woman and a 13-year-old girl also were among the deaths. Several of the injured fans were still in serious condition as of Monday.
This tragedy might not resonate with some Americans because rally car racing isn’t exactly a mainstream sport in North America. But there are nine Rally Car America events in the United States. If you go, it would be wise to find a view from above.
Fan dies from fall at Turner Field
Braves season-ticket holder Gregory Murrey, 60, fell 50 feet to his death after booing the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez when he pinch-hit in the seventh inning of a game on Aug. 29.
Murrey apparently was so riled up at the sight of A-Rod that he lost his balance and tumbled from the upper deck, landing on a concrete stairway between sections. No other fans were injured, but several were traumatized at the sight of Murrey’s fall. Players’ family members sat close to the spot.
The game went on while paramedics tended to Murrey, who died on his way to the hospital.
This was just a freak accident. The only thing that possibly could have prevented it is higher railing.
In other cases, the risk at baseball games is much more evident.
Broken bat seriously injures woman at Fenway Park
The cozy confines of Fenway Park can get a little too cozy sometimes.
On June 5, the Athletics’ Brett Lawrie hit a broken-bat single in the second inning of a game against the Red Sox. The barrel of the bat flew into the stands and struck 44-year-old Tonya Carpenter in the head.
Carpenter, who was sitting near the visitors’ dugout on the third-base side, suffered life-threatening injuries. The game was delayed while medical personnel took her from the ballpark on a stretcher. Her screams could even be heard on the radio.
Carpenter spent a week in the hospital, where she had brain surgery, then moved on to a rehab facility. After winning the fight for her life, she’s had to fight to keep her son. Carpenter was with her son and a man at the game. Her ex-husband filed for custody of the 7-year-old, claiming she’s unable to care for him because of her injury. The case is likely to go to trial, according to WHDH.com.
Russian soccer fan dangles from roof
This guy fell about 100 feet and somehow ended up with just a broken arm.
Fans kept police busy at Arsenal Tula stadium in this Russian Premier League soccer match between Spartak Moscow and Arsenal Tula. There were fireworks and thrown chairs, but this crazed fan stole the show when he hung from the roof of the stadium.
This daring fan drew cheers before falling about 100 feet onto pavement. He broke his arm in several places, but his life never was in danger.
Blackhawks fan takes glass to head, stays at game
Chicago Blackhawks fan Alexis Bovard wasn’t going to let a little gash in her head force her to leave her first Blackhawks game.
Edmonton was visiting Chicago at The United Center. Early in the first period, the Oilers’ Benoit Pouliot checked the Blackhawks’ Niklas Hjalmarsson into the boards so hard that a full sheet of glass came loose and landed sideways on Bovard’s head. Out came the blood. But no way was she leaving her seat. She got a few stitches, had her head bandaged and stayed for the entire game.
She’s tough. She’s a hockey fan
Piece of scoreboard falls on fans at French Open
This one could have been worse.
Three fans were injured when a piece of metal fell from a scoreboard at the French Open. All the injuries were minor, probably because an overhang broke and even momentarily stopped the metal’s fall before it landed on the fans.
The quarterfinal match between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Kei Nishikori was suspended for 30 minutes.
Strange things happen on that Roland Garros clay, and apparently strange things happen in the stands, too.