Los Angeles - A California jury has awarded 16 million dollars to the family of a woman who died during a 2007 radio station contest gone awry, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. Jennifer Strange died in 2007 at the age of 28 of acute water intoxication after competing in a radio contest called Hold Your Wee for Wii, in which contestants had to drink as much water as possible without using the bathroom. Strange was trying to win a Nintendo Wii game console for her three children.
The Sacramento County Superior Court jury concluded that Entercom Sacramento, which operated the radio station was negligent after ignoring several warnings that the morning show contest could have fatal consequences. Strange was one of 20 competitors on the show and complained of having a splitting headache and feeling wobbly shortly before she died.
Entercom indicated that it would not appeal the decision.
"Jennifer Strange's death was a tragedy," Charles Sipkins, a spokesman for Entercom, said in a statement. "While legal restrictions preclude us from commenting further on the verdict, we respect the jury's decision and hope that it will assist the Strange family in coping with its loss."
