Wade Langston Obituary, Death;- A man from Colorado tragically lost his life on Sunday during a high school track meet when a hammer thrown by an athlete inadvertently struck him, as reported by authorities.
The incident took place on the campus of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, where high school track and field competitors from various regions of the state were participating.
A representative from the university confirmed the fatality to ABC News, stating that a spectator “was killed when a hammer thrown by a participant cleared certified barriers and struck him.” The Colorado Springs Fire Department declared the man deceased at the scene.
The victim has been identified as 57-year-old Wade Langston, according to the El Paso County Coroner’s Office. University of Colorado Colorado Springs Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet expressed condolences in a statement, saying, “We are heartbroken at this horrible accident and are focused on supporting all involved.”
The hammer throw is a standard event in track and field, where athletes throw a metal ball attached to a grip by a wire. Langston was the father of one of the high school athletes competing and reportedly died while attempting to shield his wife and son from the incoming hammer, as per Colorado Springs ABC affiliate KRDO.
A spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Police Department refrained from commenting, indicating that it was a “non-criminal incident.”
