4 injured as bull escapes arena and charges into spectators at Oregon rodeo

Four people were hospitalized after a bull escaped an arena at an Oregon rodeo and charged into patrons outside, authorities said Sunday.

Video verified by NBC News showed a rodeo-goer charged and flipped by the mammal named Party Bus. Sisters Rodeo Association said the bull jumped an arena barrier, charged onto the rodeo grounds, and ran to holding pens, where livestock professionals contained it.

The arena announcer immediately called for an emergency response, it said.

“A rodeo bucking bull jumped a fence and ran through the rodeo grounds before being secured by our rodeo pickup men and arena staff by the back livestock pens,” Sisters Rodeo said in a statement.

Video from the scene shows that Saturday’s incident at the 84th Sisters Rodeo in the city of Sisters, about 22 miles north of Bend, took place right before the last ride of the night was scheduled.

A sold-out crowd was singing along to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”

Two of the injured were released from medical care Saturday night, Sisters Rodeo said.

“We are grateful to hear that all injured persons are now home,” it said in a separate statement Sunday.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jayson Janes said three of the injured were taken to hospitals via ambulance and one was taken in a sheriff’s cruiser.

The lieutenant and organizers indicated one of those four may have been injured as patrons tried to get away from the bull. Some of the injuries were minor, Janes said.

Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the event and private security responded to the breach, the lieutenant said. “It was contained pretty quickly,” Janes said.

Organizers said it was the first time anyone could recall such a breach happening since the their first event in Sisters in 1940.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association credited the arena’s pickup men for quickly containing the animal.

“We are grateful for the rapid, professional response of our arena pickup men, rodeo staff, and local first responders, who were able to prevent the situation from being worse,” it said in a statement.

Party Bus, the bull in question, competed in the Sisters Rodeo Xtreme Bull Riding event Wednesday and tied for third in that first round, according to PRCA information.

The stock contractor for the bull, Corey & Lange Rodeo of Moses Lake, Washington, could not be reached for comment. Organizers of Saturday’s event said the bull was checked out by veterinarians and is believed to be unharmed.

Janes said Saturday’s event was sold out, with a few hundred people on hand.

The five-day annual Sisters Rodeo competition moved forward with scheduled events on Sunday, organizers said.