A spectator was killed at a track and field meet in Colorado Springs on Sunday morning after a hammer weight thrown by a competitor went out of bounds and struck him, according to officials.
The incident occurred at a club sports track and field meet for high school students at the Mountain Lion Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.
Around 9:30 a.m., a hammer weight thrown by a student athlete cleared the barriers, striking and killing a member of the audience, a spokesperson for UCCS said in a statement, Colorado Springs station KRDO-TV reported.
First responders provided medical care, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was the father of one of the competitors from Vista Ridge High School, according to KRDO-TV. Colorado Springs police told the TV station that the man died protecting while his wife and son from the 25-pound metal ball.
“We are heartbroken at this horrible accident, and are focused on supporting all involved,” UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet said.
HuffPost has reached out to the Colorado Springs Police Department and UCCS officials for comment.
On Monday, the El Paso County coroner identified the deceased spectator as Wade Langston, 57, CBS affiliate KKTV-TV reported.
The rest of the meet was canceled following the accident.