Promoter dies at monster truck show in Madison

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Authorities in Madison say the death of a monster truck show promoter at a performance Saturday night was a “tragic accident.”

But federal safety officials will have the final word after they investigate.

George Eisenhart, 41, Chardon, Ohio, was announcing the event when he was crushed by a large blue pick-up truck near the end of the performance.

One report said the trucks were returning to their parking areas after a demonstration.

It happened Saturday night at Madison’s Alliant Energy Center.

A performance Sunday was called off.

Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said neither Eisenhart nor driver Daniel Patrick saw each other before the crash.

Eisenhart had stepped out of a safety well the announcer was supposed to use, but nobody had any idea why.

Mahoney said all the vehicles appeared to have their proper safety equipment working.

Eisenhart was the owner of Image Productions, an Ohio firm that’s holding Monster Truck Nationals’ events around the country for more than 15 years.

His family told Coroner John Stanley that monster trucks were his life and safety was very important to him.

Eisenhart had just become the head of a national group that set out to create strong safety standards for the monster truck industry.

Tags: wisconsin news, monster truck show, madison, death, george, eisenhart