Mass Casualty Incident
Mass Casualty Incident Declared After Strong Winds Injure Fans at WVU Super Regional Game
Anonymous
Severe thunderstorms and high winds with gusts around 40 mph swept through Morgantown during West Virginia University’s NCAA baseball Super Regional against Cal Poly on Saturday, blowing over an event tent/canopy near Kendrick Family Ballpark and toppling multiple tents in the adjacent Randy’s Ridge viewing area. At least five fans were injured and transported to area hospitals, and some local reports said the total injuries were higher while officials characterized it as a mass-casualty incident. WVU said EMS, law enforcement, and fire responders quickly secured the area and treated injured spectators, and the university reported it was in contact with healthcare providers as fans recovered. The game was delayed for roughly 90 minutes as storms moved through. West Virginia resumed play and defeated Cal Poly 17-1 to advance to the College World Series for the first time in program history.
Key Points
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Emergency communications officials told local media the incident was reported as a “mass casualty event,” and WBOY reported MECCA 911 confirmed it was officially labeled a “mass casualty incident,” with witnesses also seeing “at least three ambulances” at the scene near Randy’s Ridge.
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A witness on Randy’s Ridge, James Sanders, described the moment as going “right into survival mode,” saying about “roughly 10 people huddled under a small tent” before a gust ripped the larger Mountaineer Athletic Club tent and “the massive tent hurled right towards their tent.”
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Another account cited by Bleacher Report/Associated Press included a quote from Hill (WAJR): he said he was “just trying to hold my weight on the pole with the cement block,” but strong gusts made the pole slide and people were “caught up in the ropes and the poles.”
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WVU Athletics said its athletic director Wren Baker asked for prayers for the injured fans in a post on X after the storm-related injuries during the weather delay.
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