"Unforeseen accident" sends two Shrine Circus performers to Saginaw hospitalsSunday, February 05, 2012
By Sue White For MLive.com
The Saginaw News
SAGINAW - Daredevil stunt driver Josh Headford and local Shriner Al Basner were injured tonight but are expected to recover, Shrine Circus officials say, after a low guide wire sent Headford's motocross bike plunging 25 feet to The Dow Event Center's floor.
Headford broke his femur, or thigh bone, said Craig Hatch, executive director of the Elf Khurafeh Shrine circuses, and Basner was hit in the face by a flying cable.
The Brett Carden Circus stunt, one circus spokesman Nick Singelis had called a highlight of this year's event, had Headford riding up a ramp in one corner of Wendler Arena and crossed through the air to another at the far end.
"Everyone was in shock," Hatch said of the night's crowd. "The lights were coming up – it was the end of the show – and at first, even our ringmaster wasn't sure what had happened."
But he quickly took action, Hatch said, and announced that the fall was not part of the act and that people should clear the building so the rescue crew from Mobile Medical Response could do its job.
"It looked as if Josh was doing a somersault, which he does at the end, but the bike hit the floor instead of the ramp. That's when we knew it was an unforeseen accident."
It was the final act of the final show on the final day, said The Dow director Matt Blasy, who did not witness the incident.
"I was working in my office when one of my guys stopped by and said I really should head to the arena to see this," he said. Then came another call, and he was racing to the floor.
"From what I heard, the wires above were not raised high enough before the act and the driver got tangled in them. "He was moving his limbs and he was conscious when the ambulance was here."
"Everything went fine at all the shows in Lansing, and in Flint, and here, in the last show of the last day, something like this happens," Hatch said. "We know everyone there was very concerned for their well-being, so that's what we want to let everyone know.
"Both have been treated and it looks like Al is going home tonight. They're both doing well."
Headford broke his femur, or thigh bone, said Craig Hatch, executive director of the Elf Khurafeh Shrine circuses, and Basner was hit in the face by a flying cable.
The Brett Carden Circus stunt, one circus spokesman Nick Singelis had called a highlight of this year's event, had Headford riding up a ramp in one corner of Wendler Arena and crossed through the air to another at the far end.
"Everyone was in shock," Hatch said of the night's crowd. "The lights were coming up – it was the end of the show – and at first, even our ringmaster wasn't sure what had happened."
But he quickly took action, Hatch said, and announced that the fall was not part of the act and that people should clear the building so the rescue crew from Mobile Medical Response could do its job.
"It looked as if Josh was doing a somersault, which he does at the end, but the bike hit the floor instead of the ramp. That's when we knew it was an unforeseen accident."
It was the final act of the final show on the final day, said The Dow director Matt Blasy, who did not witness the incident.
"I was working in my office when one of my guys stopped by and said I really should head to the arena to see this," he said. Then came another call, and he was racing to the floor.
"From what I heard, the wires above were not raised high enough before the act and the driver got tangled in them. "He was moving his limbs and he was conscious when the ambulance was here."
"Everything went fine at all the shows in Lansing, and in Flint, and here, in the last show of the last day, something like this happens," Hatch said. "We know everyone there was very concerned for their well-being, so that's what we want to let everyone know.
"Both have been treated and it looks like Al is going home tonight. They're both doing well."
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