A California court found Sacramento radio station KDND-FM and its owner liable for the death in January 2007 of mother-of-three Jennifer Strange, 28. Why can't you take in as much water as you want?". "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" Costs Radio Station Dearly [65], On September 7, 2017, the FCC deleted the license for KDND after denying a Petition for Reconsideration and Application for Review filed by Ed Stolz, the former owner of the station at 106.5MHz when it was KWOD; Stolz had sought to have his 1996 sale of the station rescinded so he could resume control. KDND (107.9 MHz) was an FM radio station licensed to Sacramento, California, United States.The station first signed on in 1947 as KXOA-FM, an FM simulcast of AM station KXOA, before separating itself with distinct programming, including most prominently soft rock, adult contemporary, and classic hits formats. She was reported to have drunk about seven quarts (6-1/2 liters) of water in a bid to win the Wii for her children. Strange had showed fellow contestants photographs of her two sons and daughter, for whom she was hoping to win the Nintendo Wii. The family of a California woman who died trying to win a Wii in a radio contest has been awarded $16.5 million in its suit against the station, according to the Associated Press. Consequences of Deficiency or Excess - Human Nutrition: 2020 Edition The Sacramento news stations report water intoxication. What was the cause of Jennifer Strange Death? - KnowledgeBurrow [53][54], The Media Action Center, a watchdog organization founded by former producer Sue Wilson, filed a petition to deny against KDND's license when it was up for renewal in 2013. Billy Strange said adjusting to life without the wife and mother was "a one step at a time process.". "We totally had a moment together," says Campos, 33. As a listener who identified herself as "Eve" told the morning crew, people "can get sick and possibly die from water intoxication. Under normal circumstances, accidentally consuming too much water is . Among the fired employees were three morning disc jockeys. I feel so awful, I'm about to pass out.' Without electrolytes, the body can't function (see What are electrolytes? During the contest, participants were given two minutes to drink an 8-ounce bottle of water and then given another bottle to drink after a 10-minute break. The FCC ruled that Stolz's arguments had no merit and that he was not a party of interest in the dispute between Media Action Center and Entercom that led to the license revocation hearing. Hardly. [30], On January 12, 2007, KDND's morning show, the Morning Rave, held an on-air contest entitled Hold Your Wee for a Wii, in which contestants were asked to drink as much water as they could without urinating. In severe cases of water intoxication, coma and death come fairly quickly as a result of brain swelling. [35] At one point, a nurse contacted the station and informed the DJs that the contest could be dangerous and potentially fatal. We will respond to any petition filed with the FCC at the appropriate time.. Jennifer Strange, a 28-year-old from Northern California, died in 2007 after participating in a radio station's contest called "Hold Your Wee for a Wii," in which contestants drank large. She consumed massive amounts of water, developed severe headaches, seizures, coma and died within 24 hours. An excess of water in the body can lead to the dilution of vital fluids. Trump motion to declare mistrial in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit denied, U.S. to let Afghan evacuees renew temporary legal status, Tornado hits Virginia Beach, likely damaging hundreds of homes. a Nintendo Wii video . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The Courier News. As part of KDND's "Hold your wee for a Wii" contest, Jennifer drank bottle after bottle of water for hours without urinating. Our thoughts remain with the family. The station fired 10 employees after the death. The purpose of this rule is fairly simple: To hold employers responsible for the costs of doing business, including the costs of employee carelessness or misconduct. The contest began around 6:45a.m. as contestants were each handed 240 mL (8oz) water bottles to drink at 15-minute intervals. They tried to drink as much water as they could without urinating in a bid to win a Nintendo Wii gaming console. She was found dead that afternoon in her Rancho Cordova home. Midway through the contest, he said, the amount of water given to the participants was doubled. Hold Your Wee for a Wii: How a Radio Competition Turned Deadly Water overdose kills woman in Wii challenge - The Guardian The wrongful death lawsuit, a copy of which you'll find below, names the radio station's owner and eight individuals as defendants. They were small little half-pint bottles, so we thought it was going to be easy, said fellow contestant James Ybarra of Woodland. (10 pages), Drunk Floridian killed bird with Glock pistol, police charge. The same day, the station announced that it had fired 10 staff members, including the five hosts of the "Morning Rave," which was canceled. On Thursday, Sacramento County jurors found Entercom Sacramento LLC, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Entercom Communications Corp., liable for the actions of its employees at Sacramento radio station KDND-FM. display: none; The station first signed on in 1947 as KXOA-FM, an FM simulcast of AM station KXOA, before separating itself with distinct programming, including most prominently soft rock, adult contemporary, and classic hits formats. Solved Case Study #1: Cell Biology Fall 2019 Part 1 - Chegg Strange, who told Campos she was feeling "terrible," died from water intoxication. Twenty-eight years old, married and the mother of three, Strange had entered the "Hold your Wee for a Wii" contest to try to win a Nintendo Wii video game player for her kids. Nov. 2, 2009— -- The husband of a California woman who died after participating in a radio station's water drinking contest said he hopes a jury's $16.5 million compensation award following a wrongful death lawsuit will send a message to other corporations dealing with the public. Entercom Sacramento LLC was found to be 100% at fault for Strange's death while Entercom Communications was found to be 0% at fault. If the injury caused by the employee is simply one of the risks of the business, the employer will have to bear the responsibility. about FindLaws newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy. In 2007, Jennifer Lea Strange died after participating in "Hold Your Wee For A Wii," a contest held by the Morning Rave show on KDND in Sacramento that required contestants to drink as much water as possible without urinating, in order to win a Nintendo Wii console. The hosts of KDND-FM's "Morning Rave" were fired Tuesday, a day after the station said it was suspending the show and investigating the death of Jennifer Lea Strange. All rights reserved. It was her choice to enter Friday morning's contest. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "How can someone die from drinking too much water?" "She was in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" competition trying to win a Nintendo Wii video game system." "It was a preventable thing," Billy Strange told "Good Morning America" today of his wife's 2007 death from water toxicity. code or county). A jury awarded $16,577,188 damages against KDND . A preliminary autopsy indicated that Jennifer Strange, 28, died from water intoxication after participating in KDND-FM 107.9's on-air "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest Friday. } If it's caught early, treatment with IV fluids containing electrolytes can lead to a complete recovery; but untreated, hyponatremia is fatal. [28][29] In January 1999, the KXOA call letters, as well as the Arrow format and branding, were recycled by the former KRAK-FM at 93.7MHz, replacing an ailing classic country station. [60], KDND's format and The End branding were re-located to sister station KUDL at 9:00a.m. on February 6 (the last song before the move was "Scars to Your Beautiful" by Alessia Cara). Now the Sacramento radio station could lose its licence. [2] The construction permit was granted on December 19, 1945, but changes in program planning and technical adjustments in the early days of the present 88108MHz band meant that the station debuted at 102.9MHz in June 1947 before being moved to 107.9MHz within months. It seemed a great wheeze at the time - a radio contest called Hold Your Wee for a Wii" . "Make sure he signs the release," he chortled, setting off gales of laughter in the studio. Over the next month, the jury heard testimony from over 41 witnesses as 192 exhibits were entered into evidence. for a more detailed description). Dreyer charged that even after getting phone calls -- one from a nurse -- the DJs did not pass along information about the dangers of drinking too much water to the contestants. The Sacramento Media Group and the Media Action Center will file legal challenges with the US Federal Communications Commission before the Nov. 1 deadline to contest the stations pending eight-year broadcast license renewal. Water intoxication: When a person drinks large quantities of water rapidly, the normal balance of electrolytes in the body can be diluted to the point that brain function is disturbed, leading to light-headedness, nausea, vomiting, headaches and sometimes death. What was the cause of Jennifer Strange Death? You've probably heard the term electrolyte before, whether in reference to sports drinks (which provide electrolytes in addition to fluids) or to certain conditions, such as bulimia or diarrhea, that cause dangerous "electrolyte imbalances" in the body. As a result, sodium helps regulate blood pressure and maintain the signals that let muscles operate properly, among other things. During the match, contestants were given two minutes to drink an 8-ounce bottle of water, then given another bottle to drink after a 10-minute break. Terms of Service apply. John Geary, vice president and marketing manager for Entercom Sacramento, the station's. Strange had showed fellow. Signs and symptoms are usually noticeable after about 2 percent of total body water is lost. 18 January 2007. She died because of her participation in a radio contest called "Hold Your Wee for a Wii.". Well, here's another good one. The contest, which was held in January 2007, was to see which contestant could drink the most water without going to the bathroom. All rights reserved. Woman dies after trying to win Wii | Engadget In February 2005, a Chico State. [18] Daniels moved to drop 1960s songs from the station's repertoire, and in May 1993, the station flipped to a more uptempo adult contemporary format branded as Xtra 107.9, advertising itself as featuring "no rap, metal, or Madonna". Ran on: 02-08-2005 My bladder couldnt handle it anymore, he added. [49] On October 29, 2009, after a week of deliberations, the jury awarded the survivors of Jennifer Strange the sum of $16,577,118 in monetary damages. Strange left after taking second place, winning a pair of concert tickets. Entercom stated that "it is in the company's best interests to voluntarily turn in the KDND license to facilitate the timely FCC approvals for the planned combination with CBS Radio". It was not immediately know how much water Strange consumed. The show's DJs called the contest "Hold your Wee for a Wii.". [20] The format did not improve KXOA's ratings; on March 25, 1994, the station flipped to a classic hits format branded as Arrow 108, adapted from Los Angeles' KCBS-FM. Strange was one of the original 20 contestants who were put in a room with one DJ separate from the studio where they could not hear on-air comments or callers. The Sacramento County coroner said preliminary autopsy findings indicated she died of water intoxication. Inside the cell, there are more electrolytes; outside the cell, there is more water. "Maybe we should have researched this before," the female disc jockey added. [56][57], On February 2, 2017, Entercom announced its intent to acquire CBS Radio. "Hold Your Wee For A Wii" Update On "Factor" - YouTube Water drinking contest blamed in death of California woman CNN.com: Woman drinks so much water she dies - Jan. 13, 2007, Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Can You Drink Too Much Water?" Radio Station Behind "Hold your Wee for a Wii" Promotion Shuts Down ", "Your body is 98 percent water," one of the hosts remarked to his on-air audience. Radio's Deadly Stunts - The Jennifer Strange Story display: block; At the time of the incident, Laura Rios, one of Strange's co-workers at Radiological Associates of Sacramento said Strange "said to one of our supervisors that she was on her way home and her head was hurting her real bad She was crying and that was the last that anyone had heard from her.". Media Action Center founder Sue Wilson, producer of a 2009 documentary, Broadcast Blues, on Stranges death, said the groups intend to formally serve papers when FCC commissioners meet in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 22. ", Juror Tammy Elliott focused on the cautionary phone calls. As a sports columnist, he climbed the ski jump at the Norway Olympics,ate bee larvae in Japan and skied in the French Alps. The whole premise is in the title: Hold Your Wee for a Wii. Initially, Jennifer seemed to be having fun, joking lightheartedly with the radio hosts and obligingly downing an 8-ounce bottle of water every 15 minutes. At the time of the incident, Laura Rios, one of Strange's co-workers at Radiological Associates of . Jennifer Strange, a 28-year-old Rancho Cordova, Calif. mother of three, died of acute water intoxication in January, 2007 after the challenge to see which contestant could drink the most water without using the restroom. She called in sick to work after the contest, complaining of a bad headache, and about five hours later, her mother found her dead in her Rancho Cordova, Calif., home. DNA solves "decades-old mystery" after woman's remains found in 1995 Alex told police he acted in self-defense when he shot Charles, according to body cam footage released by the Chandler. "Not with water," a male disc jockey replied. But the contest went ahead with a host laughing and asking, Is anyone dying in there?. The Sacramento Bee released audio clips from the morning show indicating that the disc jockeys were aware of the death of Matthew Carrington by water intoxication. At the time of the station's closing, KDND's studios were located in North Highlands (though with a Sacramento address), while its transmitter was located just north of the Sacramento city limits near Elverta. Peeing contest 'Hold your wee for a Wii' killed woman; now radio Welcome to the home of Intentional Worship! - Facebook Brain cells are constrained by the skull and can end up bursting with the pressure of the water they are taking in. How can someone die from drinking too much water? In this case, the radio station and its head corporation must be held responsible for the acts of its employees because they were carrying out company business by conducting this contest. Water intoxication causes an electrolyte imbalance that affects concentrations of the ion sodium, and it leads to a condition called hyponatremia. Family: Sadistic radio contest caused wrongful death of mom. Initially, Jennifer seemed to be having fun, joking lightheartedly with the radio hosts and obligingly downing an 8-ounce bottle of water every 15 minutes. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. ", Strange drank nearly two gallons of water in over three hours on Jan. 12, 2007. In other words, the employer will generally be liable if the employee was doing his or her job, carrying out company business, or otherwise acting on the employer's behalf when the incident took place. However, the Federal Communications Commission has not acted in any way., Kevin Geary, a spokesman for KDNDs parent , Entercom Communications, said the events in 2007 were tragic. When the Wii . Strange but True: Drinking Too Much Water Can Kill The jurors found that the Entercom Communications Corporation based in Philadeliphia, along with its Sacramento subsidiary liable for the actions of its employees at the Sacramento radio station KDND-FM. As part of KDND's "Hold your wee for a Wii" contest, Jennifer drank bottle after bottle of water for hours without urinating. Jennifer Strange had taken part in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" game run by KDND 107.9 radio in Sacramento, which promised the winner a Nintendo Wii. "She said, 'Oh, my God. After drinking two gallons and becoming one of two final participants, according to witness reports, Strange began to feel ill and had to quit. A preliminary autopsy indicated that Jennifer Strange died from water intoxication. [9] Drake-Chenault moved the station to Loma Vista Drive off Fulton Avenue. The contestant able to hold the most water would win a Wii video game console; at the time, the Nintendo console was a very popular and sought-after item, but was nearly impossible to find in stores in North America. 'Hold your wee for a Wii' audio recording | Engadget "I asked her, 'How do you feel?' "She talked about her kids the whole time. Water intoxication - Wikipedia MedlinePlus Encyclopedia. This 10-year journey to the loss of a valuable broadcasting license in such a prominent market is not surprising, given the facts. In July 1998, two years after the sale of the station to Entercom (now Audacy, Inc.), the station switched to its final KDND call letters and Top 40/CHR format branded as 107.9 The End. IE 11 is not supported. She then called in sick at work and died in her bathroom just hours after the contest. 82K views 13 years ago Bill O'Reilly and Megyn Kelly discuss the "Hold Your Wee For A Wii" contest from 2007, in which Jennifer Strange died. A mother of three died from water intoxication after a radio station drinking competition, a California coroner said on Saturday. John Geary, vice president and general manager of Entercom/Sacramento, the parent company of KDND, sent an e-mail to reporters Tuesday stating that "effective immediately, the 'Morning Rave' program is canceled and 10 employees are no longer with the station.". The first song on The End was Everybody by Backstreet Boys. Strange, a mother of three, took part in the contest hoping to win the system for her children, according to reports. [47] Subsequently, both DJs settled with Entercom for an undisclosed amount. Death Tied to Entercom's The End 107.9? | RadioDiscussions A Sacramento radio station fired 10 employees, including its three morning disc jockeys, after a woman died following an on-air water-drinking contest last week. Known as, "The End" 107.9, the station was hosting a "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest, asking people to drink as much water as they could to win the prize. $3 million fentanyl shipment to Maine restaurant prompts arrest The FCC stipulated that use of the frequency must retain its short-spaced protections to KSAN (107.7 FM) in San Mateo, California; any new station would be limited to 50kW ERP and an average height above average terrain of 123 meters in the direction of KSAN. Become a home entertainment expert with our handpicked tips, reviews and deals. NOV. 22, 2004 FAMILY PHOTO, Dubs fans picking apart video of possible Poole-Draymond incident, Bay Area mom influencer found guilty of lying about kidnapping, Destructive landslide closes historic California institution, More rain, 'unseasonably chilly' temperatures coming to Bay Area, Bay Area preschool teacher suspected of dumping body along road, Horoscope for Monday, 5/01/23 by Christopher Renstrom, 49ers out in full force at Warriors-Kings Game 7, Shock, fear as 2 killings in 3 days rock quiet Davis, Sold-out Berkeley crowd gets rowdy at country star's concert, Steph Curry killed off the Kings with a smile, 'Horrible': Oakland rapper dumps on Chase Center Warriors fans, Klay Thompson calls Warriors-Lakers series 'a dream come true', Things to do in Napa Valley during Bottlerock, plus hotels, 11 gadgets to boost your WFH productivity, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). In 1969, the station raised its effective radiated power from 12,500 watts to more than 49,000. [66], The FCC returned the 107.9 frequency on which KDND was licensed to operate to the agency's inventory of unused channels, to be put up for auction to the highest bidder. Lori Vallow Daybell's Radio DJ Brother Was Investigated In Woman's If the injury caused by the employee is simply one of the risks of the business, the employer will have to bear the responsibility. According to preliminary autopsy reports, Ms. Also, when a caller who identified herself as a nurse warned that contestants could face illness or death, an on-air personality replied, 'Yeah, they signed releases so we're not responsible so it's okay.' None of the contestants had any idea what they had gotten themselves into. She dropped out of the contest, went home and died about six hours later. Because, as many of us in the Bay Area learned two years ago, an excess of water creates a physical shutdown. When a person dies from hyponatremia as a result of water intoxication, the initiating factor is a severe sodium imbalance that causes massive cell damage. [2] For most of this time, KXOA simulcast the AM station, which since its launch had been an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System. In a statement, Entercom called Strange's death "a tragedy" and said it respected the jury's decision. John Geary, vice president and marketing manager for Entercom Sacramento, the stations owner, said station personnel were stunned when they heard of Stranges death. ", No, actually, he wasn't. In all, hecovered eight Olympic Games, from Australia to Spain to Korea. Sacramento sheriff's spokesman Sgt. They were heckling her. Strange's death was held to have been caused by the negligence of contest operators who wereacting within the scope of their employment, the corporation must answer to the victim's family. As the contestants dropped out, it became clear that some of them were having serious health problems. [62] As the station's final program, a farewell special aired at 11:30p.m. on the 7th, hosted by former afternoon DJ Chris K, playing music from the End's 18-year history. The condition is quite rare in the general population, but in distance athletics, it's a known risk and is often avoided by drinking sports drinks instead of water during training and events. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Jennifer Strange was found dead in her suburban Rancho Cordova home shortly after participating in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest, held by KDND 107.9 on Friday. The game console sells for about $250. Other symptoms include headaches, muscle weakness and convulsions. She was found dead at her home about five hours later. It seemed a great wheeze at the time - a radio contest called "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" . Sacramento district attorney's office spokeswoman Lana Wyant said prosecutors will be watching the results of the investigation as they consider filing charges. Drinking large quantities of water rapidly can throw off the body's balance of electrolytes, causing brain swelling and leading to seizures, coma or even death. . Shortly prior to the start of jury selection in the trial, KDND began to tease that it would be "saying goodbye" on September 8, 2009, leading to speculation that the station was planning to drop The End in favor of a different format or shut down entirely; however, it was later revealed that the campaign was actually for a new commercial-free Tuesdays promotion. The disc jokeys themselves had raised that possibility during the show. Cal State Chico student Matthew Carrington, 21, of Pleasant Hill, collapsed and died of heart failure after members of a fraternity forced him to drink excessive amounts of water while he performed calisthenics during a hazing ritual on Feb. 2, 2005. [17], In the early 1990s, KXOA-FM's popularity began to wane following the launch of competitors in KYMX and KGBY; ratings fell by roughly half from 1990 to 1993. [63] This special also culminated with "Bye Bye Bye" by N'Sync. The prize was a Wii video game, worth $250, going to the person who drank most water without peeing. [14], After KXOA-FM was among several stations affected by the rapid rise of KZAP (98.5 FM) at the start of the 1980s,[15] the station pivoted to a soft adult contemporary format using the K108 moniker, remaining successful throughout the decade and leading the market in ratings and revenue in the mid-1980s. [37] On January 17, the Los Angeles Times reported that Sacramento Sheriff John McGinness had ordered homicide detectives to investigate whether a crime had been committed. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The radio station, he said, "had the information months in advance that this could cause harm.". Jennifer Strange's death should be a warning to other reckless corporations. A California woman's death is being linked to her participation in a radio contest, the grand prize for which was a Nintendo Wii. A 28-year-old contestant, Jennifer Strange, died of water intoxication hours after taking part in the contest.[31][32]. 'Wee For Wii' water-drinking contest death: Jennifer Strange's family Signs and symptoms of dehydration include thirst, dizziness, fainting, headaches, low blood-pressure, fatigue, low to no urine output, and, in extreme cases, loss of consciousness and death.
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