Police Probe Death After Radio Contest
By JULIET WILLIAMS
AP
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 18) - As participants in KDND-FM's water-drinking contest chugged bottle after bottle, a listener called in to warn the disc jockeys that the stunt could be fatal.


Attorneys for the family of Jennifer Lea Strange said they plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the radio station that held the drinking contest.


"Yeah, we're aware of that," one of them responded.

Another DJ said with a laugh: "Yeah, they signed releases, so we're not responsible. We're OK."

Those comments, and others made during the Jan. 12 "Morning Rave" radio show, appeared to give little regard to the risk of water intoxication. But just hours after the contest, a woman who guzzled nearly two gallons was dead.

On Wednesday, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department launched a criminal investigation into the incident, and attorneys for the family of Jennifer Lea Strange said they plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the radio station.

The county coroner said preliminary autopsy findings indicate Strange, a 28-year-old mother of three, died of water intoxication.


Show Tapes Released

Authorities decided to pursue the investigation after listening to a tape of the show, obtained by The Sacramento Bee, during which DJs joked about the possible dangers of consuming too much water, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran said. At one point, the DJs even alluded to a college student who died during a similar stunt in 2005.

Strange was one of about 18 contestants who tried to win a Nintendo Wii gaming console by determining how much water they could drink without going to the bathroom.

Several hours into the contest, Strange was interviewed on the air and complained that her head hurt.

"They keep telling me that it's the water. That it will tell my head to hurt and then it will make me puke," she said.


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"Oh, my gosh, look at that belly. That's full of water. ... Come on over, Jennifer, you OK?" a male DJ asked. "You going to pass out right now? Too much water?"

Several hours later, Strange was found dead in her home.

On Tuesday, KDND's parent company, Entercom/Sacramento, fired 10 employees connected to the contest, including three morning disc jockeys. The company also took the morning show off the air.

Station spokesman Charles Sipkins said Wednesday the company had not yet heard from the sheriff's department but that it would cooperate with the investigation.

I'm sorry, but didn't the woman realize HERSELF that drinking that much water isn't good for you?
I'm not saying she deserved to die, that's awful, but come on, she should have used some common sense.
I didn't know you could die from drinking that much water, but I knew it wasn't good for you.
She should have done a Google search or something before entering the contest.

Oddly a friend of mine told me a story about when she was younger and her and her friend heard you could get drunk off water, so they tried it. They only drank about a half gallon each and both ended up really sick and puking.

It's so sad, I'm sure she thought, "it's just water" the whole time.

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It's just a pity that she had children. Noone that stupid should be allowed to pass on their genes.

What a dickhead. I feel sorry for her for not having intelligence and it was wrong for the radio to have the competition but seriously, she should have known. Thats how alot of people on E die, by drinking too much water.

I tried this tactic after reading about it on alt.sucide.net. I didn't die, just had to pee a lot. What a gyp...

for a video game???
wtf
I can hear it now
St. Peter: uhhhhhh are you effin serious? retard.

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getting tired of the collective orgasm at the public declaration of the word "change"

Dr. Nathanson

What a fucking stupid contest. I don't get why anyone would enter it and how adults wouldn't know it was dangerous. But it was a stupid idea to even have the contest in the first place.

I read it off there too. I never tried it myself though. No one believes me when I tell them you can die from drinking too much water though.

I'm not saying this women was particularly bright, but I can't believe the radio station didn't think it through further.

exactly. what kind of morons are working there??

i think this is really sad

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don't you think every kitten figures out how to get down
whether or not you ever show up

Fucking horrendous.

that kinda creeps me out. i drink shit loads of water everyday.

Everyone is stupid except me.

<<Jennifer Lea Strange>>

hahaha

Yeah me too. I think it makes your brain swell up.

What one might think..... yet the 100s of competitive eating/drinking competitions across America says otherwise. People are so dumb.

BWAH HA HA HA!!!

I think this entire thing is stupid.

PS - For whatever reason, this thread has generated personal defense / security advertisements.

really cuz I get hello kitty as usual- plus Car Floor Mats! score!

__________________
getting tired of the collective orgasm at the public declaration of the word "change"

Dr. Nathanson