A rodeo bull leaped over a fence surrounding an Oregon arena and sprinted through a concession area into a parking lot, causing injuries to at least three people before wranglers were able to catch it, according to officials.
The audience at the 84th Sisters Rodeo in Sisters was singing along to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” on Saturday night, many holding up their cellphone flashlights, when the bull dashed around the arena. A fan’s video captured the moment the bull cleared the fence during what was supposed to be the final bull ride of the night.
Additional videos shared online depicted the bull running through the concession area, toppling a garbage can, and causing chaos. It lifted one individual off the ground, tossed them in the air, and bumped them with its horns before they fell to the ground.
The Sisters Rodeo Association confirmed on Sunday that three people were hurt as a result of the bull, with two of them being taken to a local hospital, as reported by KTVZ-TV. Rodeo experts managed to corral the bull next to the livestock holding pens and eventually secured it inside a pen.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Sergeant Joshua Spano mentioned that multiple ambulances were dispatched to the scene. One patient with non-life-threatening injuries was transported to a hospital, and a deputy suffered minor injuries while responding to the bull’s escape, said Lt. Jayson Janes to KTVZ on Sunday.
Danielle Smithers, a rodeo fan, had her cellphone flashlight on as the bull, named Party Bus, was moving around the ring with two riders on horseback while the crowd sang and swayed along. She initially wanted to record a video of the scene due to its beauty before the bull unexpectedly escaped.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association emphasized that while rodeo is an entertaining sport, it can occasionally carry risks. They expressed their support and well wishes to those affected by the incident.
Efforts to reach officials at the Sisters Rodeo for information on a potential investigation were unsuccessful. The rodeo’s final performance on Sunday proceeded as planned.
Sisters is located approximately 23 miles northwest of Bend, Oregon.
