[Vision2020] shopping daze

Sat, 29 Nov 2003 10:21:30 -0800

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Nov. 29, 2003, 9:48AM

    Woman trampled by holiday shoppers

Associated Press

ORANGE CITY, Fla. -- A mob of shoppers rushing for a sale on DVD players 
trampled the first woman in line and knocked her unconscious as they 
scrambled for the shelves at a Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Patricia VanLester had her eye on a $29 DVD player, but when the siren 
blared at 6 a.m. Friday announcing the start to the post-Thanksgiving 
sale, the 41-year-old was knocked to the ground by the frenzy of 
shoppers behind her.

"She got pushed down, and they walked over her like a herd of 
elephants," said VanLester's sister, Linda Ellzey. "I told them, `Stop 
stepping on my sister! She's on the ground!'"

Ellzey said some shoppers tried to help VanLester, and one employee 
helped Ellzey reach her sister, but most people just continued their 
rush for deals.

"All they cared about was a stupid DVD player," she said Saturday.

Paramedics called to the store found VanLester unconscious on top of a 
DVD player, surrounded by shoppers seemingly oblivious to her, said Mark 
O'Keefe, a spokesman for EVAC Ambulance.

She was flown to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where doctors 
told the family VanLester had a seizure after she was knocked down and 
would likely remain hospitalized through the weekend, Ellzey said. 
Hospital officials said Saturday they did not have any information on 
her condition.

"She's all black and blue," Ellzey said. "Patty doesn't remember 
anything. She still can't believe it all happened."

Ellzey said Wal-Mart officials called later Friday to ask about her 
sister, and the store apologized and offered to put a DVD player on hold 
for her.

Wal-Mart Stores spokeswoman Karen Burk said she had never heard of a 
such a melee during a sale.

"We are very disappointed this happened," Burk said. "We want her to 
come back as a shopper."

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Nov. 29, 2003, 9:48AM 

<h2>Woman trampled by holiday shoppers </h2>
Associated Press 

ORANGE CITY, Fla. -- A mob of shoppers rushing for a sale on DVD
players trampled the first woman in line and knocked her unconscious as
they scrambled for the shelves at a Wal-Mart Supercenter. 
Patricia VanLester had her eye on a $29 DVD player, but when the
siren blared at 6 a.m. Friday announcing the start to the
post-Thanksgiving sale, the 41-year-old was knocked to the ground by
the frenzy of shoppers behind her. 
"She got pushed down, and they walked over her like a herd of
elephants," said VanLester's sister, Linda Ellzey. "I told them, `Stop
stepping on my sister! She's on the ground!'" 
Ellzey said some shoppers tried to help VanLester, and one employee
helped Ellzey reach her sister, but most people just continued their
rush for deals. 
"All they cared about was a stupid DVD player," she said Saturday. 
Paramedics called to the store found VanLester unconscious on top of
a DVD player, surrounded by shoppers seemingly oblivious to her, said
Mark O'Keefe, a spokesman for EVAC Ambulance. 
She was flown to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where
doctors told the family VanLester had a seizure after she was knocked
down and would likely remain hospitalized through the weekend, Ellzey
said. Hospital officials said Saturday they did not have any
information on her condition. 
"She's all black and blue," Ellzey said. "Patty doesn't remember
anything. She still can't believe it all happened." 
Ellzey said Wal-Mart officials called later Friday to ask about her
sister, and the store apologized and offered to put a DVD player on
hold for her. 
Wal-Mart Stores spokeswoman Karen Burk said she had never heard of a
such a melee during a sale. 
"We are very disappointed this happened," Burk said. "We want her to
come back as a shopper." 
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