Laptop Sale Turns Into a Stampede

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By KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 5 minutes ago

 

A rush to purchase $50 used laptops turned into a violent stampede Tuesday, with people getting thrown to the pavement, beaten with a folding chair and nearly driven over. One woman went so far as to wet herself rather than surrender her place in line.

 

"This is total, total chaos," said Latoya Jones, 19, who lost one of her flip-flops in the ordeal and later limped around on the sizzling blacktop with one foot bare.

 

An estimated 5,500 people turned out at the Richmond International Raceway in hopes of getting their hands on one of the 4-year-old Apple iBooks. The Henrico County school system was selling 1,000 of the computers to county residents. New iBooks cost between $999 and $1,299.

 

Officials opened the gates at 7 a.m., but some already had been waiting since 1:30 a.m. When the gates opened, it became a terrifying mob scene.

 

People threw themselves forward, screaming and pushing each other. A little girl's stroller was crushed in the stampede. Witnesses said an elderly man was thrown to the pavement, and someone in a car tried to drive his way through the crowd.

 

Seventeen people suffered minor injuries, with four requiring hospital treatment, Henrico County Battalion Chief Steve Wood said. There were no arrests and the iBooks sold out by 1 p.m.

 

"It's rather strange that we would have such a tremendous response for the purchase of a laptop computer — and laptop computers that probably have less-than- desirable attributes," said Paul Proto, director of general services for Henrico County. "But I think that people tend to get caught up in the excitement of the event — it almost has an entertainment value."

 

Blandine Alexander, 33, said one woman standing in front of her was so desperate to retain her place in line that she urinated on herself.

 

"I've never been in something like that before, and I never again will," said Alexander, who brought her 14-year-old twin boys to the complex at 4:30 a.m. to wait in line. "No matter what the kids want, I already told them I'm not doing that again."

 

Jesse Sandler said he was one of the people pushing forward, using a folding chair he had brought with him to beat back people who tried to cut in front of him.

 

"I took my chair here and I threw it over my shoulder and I went, 'Bam,'" the 20-year-old said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to the screen of his new iBook, as he tapped away on the keyboard at a testing station.

 

"They were getting in front of me and I was there a lot earlier than them, so I thought that it was just," he said.

Simply amazing how crazy people get just for laptops. Come to think of it, I'd probabaly be one of those guys trying to get one myself. $50 ain't too shabby, but I'm sure there are more ways in getting cheap computer appliances.

[OverlordMondo]

I support this stampede. Isn't Richmond in Virginia? I think a local news station is covering this tonight.

[Wizard]

I also fully support this stamped.

[Weirdy]

if I was in that stampede, I would've drenched myself in oil so that no one could hold me down

[Gryph]

This proves that humans are no better than cows.

[ken_cinder]

It's an Apple......geez

[solidius23]

i was gonna post this story but stupid net at work went out. but im with cinder they were freaking macs. and 4 yr old macs at that.

[ken_cinder]

Not that I hate Macs or anything.......but like really, how can this many people show up and cause such a commotion for one? If they were PC laptops, then I could see it.

[Weirdy]

cause they're $50

[Cominus]

Mac=mc square/gay.

[solidius23]

yeah 50 bucks and a bunch of injuries, and when they get home a bunch of people who are gonna say i dont even know how to freakin work this thing. wheres solitare??