EMT Dies in Crash at MT Demolition Derby
A Montana emergency medical technician was killed by an out-of-control car at a demolition derby that she was working at Sunday. Seven other people also were injured in the accident at the Powell County Fairgrounds in Deer Lodge.
The accident happened at around 9:30 p.m. when a car competing in the derby at the Tri-County Fair smashed through a chain-link fence in an area of the fairgrounds that had no other barriers, the Montana Standard reports. The car then hit a set of bleachers before finally stopping when it struck a hauling truck.
DaryLynne Day, a 36-year-old EMT with Powell County EMS, was among those struck by the derby car. She had been in the same area of the fairgrounds with other medical personnel and had been on duty at the time, according to KTVQ-TV.
Deer Lodge firefighters and other first responders quickly mobilized to help the injured, who were taken to the hospital by three ambulances and law enforcement officers, the Standard reports. Day was pronounced dead at Deer Lodge Medical Center.
"Your watch is over, we will take it from here. RIP DaryLynne Day, EMT," the ambulance service stated in an online post.
Two other victims were treated and released, while a third was airlifted to another hospital. Three other victims were in the hospital in stable condition.
“It was a freak incident and a chain of events that led to this unfortunate accident,” Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles told the Standard, adding that mechanical issues caused the driver to lose control. “It was just a bad series of events.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been started for Day, who leaves behind a husband and two young children.