A night at the Louder than Life festival in Louisville took a devastating turn Friday when a man fell out of a tree above the crowd and landed on Jamie Ulshoffer, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground during the festival’s final performance. She was rushed to University of Louisville’s Medical Center, where she underwent back surgery and remains in the ICU.
Her husband, Conor Ulshoffer, says doctors told him the paralysis from the waist down is permanent. He also says he contacted festival organizers looking for answers and has not received any further information. A GoFundMe started by a family member had raised more than $7,000 as of Monday evening to help with her recovery.
The accident raises familiar questions for anyone who attends big events: how much responsibility do festivals carry for what happens in and around the crowd, and how do you stay safe when the danger comes from somewhere you’d never think to look? For now, the Ulshoffer family is focused on the long road ahead. What would you want festival organizers to do in a situation like this?
