grrgoyl: (Default)
grrgoyl ([personal profile] grrgoyl) wrote2003-11-29 02:04 pm

And so this is Christmas..... (John Lennon)

Woman Knocked Unconscious While Shopping

ORANGE CITY, Fla. (Nov. 29) - 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. (emphasis mine)

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.''



Yeah, well for starters Walmart, you could fucking GIVE her the $29 DVD player after she was almost trampled to death, instead of putting it "on hold" for her. Glad to see old Sam Walton keeping the Spirit of Christmas alive and well.

I swear, I almost never want to shop at Walmart again.

-=Lainey=-

[identity profile] mooselet.livejournal.com 2003-11-30 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I swear you were channeling Miles when you wrote this! He said the exact same thing about this story, right down to the underlined bit! Can we get any spookier, you and me?

[identity profile] meeshud.livejournal.com 2003-12-01 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I read this too with horror! I couldn't believe that they would have the audacity to hold the damn thing for her. My god! PS - I was just watching Regis and he had Nicole Richie on talking about her new reality tv show with Paris Hilton. Basically these rich chicks go to live with a family in Arkansas to experience farm life... Anyways - the clip they showed has them eating dinner w/ the "simple-family" and the discussion of Wal-Mart breaks out - only to have Paris say, "What's Wal-Mart? A place you buy stuff for your walls?" K-lassic with a K. *oh - would you mind telling T that I am in the process of an e-mail for her - I couldn't believe she sent me such a meaty e-mail! It literally had me tearing up... I was so thankful to receive that on Thanksgiving.

[identity profile] grrgoyl.livejournal.com 2003-12-03 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey Me-Shel

I don't know who Paris Hilton is, but I do know I am sick to death of hearing about her! How the hell can she not know what Walmart is? Or is she trying to cash in on Jessica Simpson's notorious stupidity?

I gave Ter your message. She was happy to hear it.

Love ya