SISTERS, Ore. A rodeo bull jumped a fence around an Oregon arena and ran through a concession area into a parking lot, injuring at least three people before handlers caught up with him, authorities said.
The crowd at the 84th Sisters Rodeo in Sisters City sang along to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” on Saturday night, most with cellphone flashlights on, as the bull ran through the arena before what would have been the final bull. night ride, when the bull jumped the fence, according to video filmed by a fan.
Other videos posted online showed the bull running through a concession area, knocking over a trash can and sending people running. The bull lifted a person off the ground, spun him end to end, and ricocheted with his horns before the person fell to the ground.
The Sisters Rodeo Association released a statement Sunday saying three people were injured “as a direct result of the bull, two of whom were transported to a local hospital.” KTVZ-TV reported. Rodeo livestock professionals trapped the bull near the cattle pens and placed it in a corral, the association said.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Sergeant Joshua Spano said multiple ambulances were called to the scene. Deputies transported a patient with non-life-threatening injuries to a hospital, and a deputy also suffered minor injuries while responding to the escaping bull, Lt. Jayson Janes told KTVZ on Sunday.
Danielle Smithers stood among the rodeo fans with her cell phone flashlight on as the bull called the Party Bus moved through the ring with two riders on horseback as the crowd sang and swayed to the music.
“And about 30 seconds later I stopped and looked at it and thought to myself, ‘This is too beautiful not to have a video,’” Smithers said. She turned off her flashlight and “started recording the bull, just following him, doing his loop and when he started doing the second loop on my video, he went over” the fence, she said.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association said Saturday’s incident is a reminder that “although rodeo is a highly entertaining sport, on very rare occasions it can also pose some risk.”
“The PRCA sends our thoughts and best wishes to those who were injured or otherwise affected by this frightening and very rare incident,” the association said.
Sisters Rodeo officials could not be reached to ask if an investigation is planned.
The rodeo’s final performance on Sunday went ahead as scheduled.
Sisters is about 24 miles northwest of Bend, Oregon.
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