Shopper Trampled In Sale Frenzy Leaves Hospital
Witnesses: Shoppers Stepped Over Woman Having Seizure
POSTED: 5:34 a.m. EST December 1, 2003
UPDATED: 5:49 a.m. EST December 1, 2003
A 41-year-old woman who was knocked unconscious and then trampled by a mob of shoppers during a Friday sale at Wal-Mart in Orange City, Fla., has been released from the hospital, according to her family.
Authorities said that Patricia Van Lester arrived at Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. for an early sale on a DVD player for her mother. When the store's doors opened at 6 a.m., Van Lester grabbed the DVD player but was quickly overcome by hundreds of shoppers rushing into the store.
The woman was knocked to the ground, slammed her head on the ground and reportedly suffered at least one seizure, according to Local 6 News.
Her sister watched the incident and tried to stop the crowd as they made their way to the merchandise.
"I screamed, 'Stop, don't step on her, my sister is on the ground,' and nobody would listen," the woman's sister, Linda Ellzey said. "I've never seen so many people in a store at one time -- in one area. If there was a fire, nobody could've gotten out of there."
When Orange City and EVAC paramedics got to the store they found Van Lester lying on her left side on top of the DVD player, surrounded by shoppers seemingly oblivious to the unconscious woman, said Mark O'Keefe, a spokesman for EVAC Ambulance.
Van Lester was airlifted to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach. The woman's family did not comment on her condiiton after she was released from the hospital Sunday.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Authorities said that Patricia Van Lester arrived at Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. for an early sale on a DVD player for her mother. When the store's doors opened at 6 a.m., Van Lester grabbed the DVD player but was quickly overcome by hundreds of shoppers rushing into the store.
The woman was knocked to the ground, slammed her head on the ground and reportedly suffered at least one seizure, according to Local 6 News.
Her sister watched the incident and tried to stop the crowd as they made their way to the merchandise.
"I screamed, 'Stop, don't step on her, my sister is on the ground,' and nobody would listen," the woman's sister, Linda Ellzey said. "I've never seen so many people in a store at one time -- in one area. If there was a fire, nobody could've gotten out of there."
When Orange City and EVAC paramedics got to the store they found Van Lester lying on her left side on top of the DVD player, surrounded by shoppers seemingly oblivious to the unconscious woman, said Mark O'Keefe, a spokesman for EVAC Ambulance.
Van Lester was airlifted to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach. The woman's family did not comment on her condiiton after she was released from the hospital Sunday.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Previous Stories:
- November 30, 2003: Woman Knocked Unconscious By Wal-Mart Shoppers
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