A rodeo event in Gaston, South Carolina, turned chaotic on Saturday night after a sudden stampede left several people injured and led to multiple arrests. What started as a large gathering quickly became a dangerous situation due to unexpected panic among the animals and crowd.
Stampede at Rodeo Event Causes Injuries
The incident happened during a rodeo event attended by around 1,400 people. According to Stephen Watkins, officers were called after emergency services reported multiple injuries.
Authorities said the stampede began when horses were spooked by fireworks. As a result, several people were knocked down and trampled during the chaos.
Several People Hospitalised
Emergency teams treated the injured at the scene, and at least six people were taken to the hospital for further care. The exact condition of the victims has not been shared, but the injuries were serious enough to require medical attention.
Crowd Turns Disorderly
While emergency crews were helping the injured, the situation became more tense. Some people in the crowd reportedly became aggressive and started throwing beer cans at emergency workers.
This behaviour made it harder for responders to do their job safely.
Multiple Arrests Made
Police stepped in to control the situation and made eight arrests. The charges included:
- Disorderly conduct
- Resisting arrest
During the arrests, some members of the crowd continued to act aggressively and even threw objects at officers.
Heavy Emergency Response
Several agencies worked together to handle the situation, including:
- Gaston Police Department
- Lexington County EMS
- Lexington County Fire
- Lexington County Sheriff’s Department
- South Carolina Highway Patrol
Their combined efforts helped bring the situation under control.
Event Shut Down
Once all injured individuals were transported and the situation was stabilised, authorities shut down the event to prevent further incidents.
