Spectator killed when hammer goes out of bounds at high school track and field meet

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV/Gray News) – A spectator at a high school track and field meet in Colorado was killed when an athlete’s hammer went out of bounds Sunday morning.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs, which hosted the meet, said it was heartbroken over what it called a “horrible accident.”

“We are heartbroken at this horrible accident and are focused on supporting all involved,” said UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet in a statement to KKTV.

According to UCCS, the student’s hammer was thrown past the certified barriers, hitting the spectator sitting in the stands. The victim died at the scene.

“A member of the attending audience was killed when a hammer thrown by a participant cleared certified barriers and struck him. The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded, provided medical care and ultimately pronounced the audience member dead at the scene,” UCCS said.

The remainder of the meet was immediately canceled and all athletes were asked to go home.

While the university itself has not identified the victim, a statement from Colorado United Track Club said he was the father of an athlete who attends Vista Ridge High School.

Further information was not yet available.