Tragedy
Fan falls to his death at Reliant Stadium during Texans game
A male fan fell to his death at Reliant Stadium Thursday night with the Houston Texans playing the Minnesota Vikings.
CBS Houston reports that the man was fooling around on an escalator, trying to slide down the handrail when he plunged off.
The fall happened during the game, though most of the people in the stands had no idea what went on. Reliant Stadium has long, high escalators that brings fans to the upper levels of the stadium.
The deadly fall happened near the Coca-Cola entrance (the northeast side of the stadium). The fan was rushed to Memorial Hermann Southwest, but it was too late. KHOU is reporting that the fall happened from the 600 level, one of the highest sections of the stadium.
The Houston Police Department says it is investigating. Reliant Park released a statement only saying that there had been "an accident involving a patron" with the statement released after the news of the death was already out.
HPD homicide detectives were on the scene.
This is the second high-profile falling death at one of Texas' major sports venues in recent years. Texas Rangers fan Shannon Stone — a firefighter attending a baseball game with his young son — fell to his death while reaching for a ball that Rangers star Josh Hamilton threw up to him last summer.
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