SISTERS, Oregon. — A rodeo bull jumped a fence surrounding an Oregon arena and ran through a concession area into a parking lot, injuring at least three people before horse handlers caught him, officials said.
The crowd at the 84th Sisters Rodeo in the town of Sisters sang along to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” Saturday evening, most with their cell phone flashlights on, as the bull raced around the arena for what would be the final bull. ride of the night, when the bull jumped the fence, according to a video taken by a fan.
Other videos posted online showed the bull running through a concession area, knocking over a trash can and sending people fleeing. The bull lifted one person off the ground, turned him back and forth and bounced him on his horns before the person hit the ground.
The Sisters Rodeo Association issued 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 reports this. Rodeo livestock professionals secured the bull next to livestock pens and placed it in a pen, the association said.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Sergeant Joshua Spano said several ambulances were called to the scene. Officers took one patient to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and a deputy also suffered minor injuries while responding to the bull’s escape, Lt. Jayson Janes told KTVZ on Sunday.
Danielle Smithers was among the rodeo fans with her cell phone flashlight on as the bull named Party Bus moved through the ring with two riders on horseback as the crowd sang and swayed to the music.
“And after about 30 seconds I stopped and looked at it and thought to myself, ‘This is just too good not to have a video,’” Smithers said. She turned off her flashlight and “started recording the bull, just I follow him, make his loop and as he starts to come around his second loop in my video, he goes right over the fence,” she said.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association said Saturday’s incident is a reminder that “while rodeo is a highly entertaining sport, on very rare occasions it can also involve some risk.”
“PRCA sends our thoughts and well wishes to those 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 final performance of the rodeo on Sunday went ahead as planned.
Sisters is located approximately 24 miles northwest of Bend, Oregon.