Monster Jam Tragedy 1992
On March 8, 1992, the USHRA Monster Jam Circuit had a show at the center. During a race between Taurus and Bad Medicine, Bad Medicine's driver, Don Van Loo, had a bad landing from off the set of cars. He smashed his head against the rollbar and was knocked out. The truck was still moving at the time, and preceded to veer out of control and crash into the stands, killing 82-year old Lester Gilliam. Gilliam could have saved himself, but instead pushed a young child out of harm's way, sacrificing himself. Van Loo was not new to being knocked out during a run: a year previously, in Oklahoma City, when Bad Medicine was making its debut, Van Loo's truck leaped into the air and took a bad bounce. The impact knocked him out. His foot accidentally fell on to the throttle, which sent the truck ramming into the wall.
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