Matthew Keys headline-16678 2009-10-29T22:10:01Z 2009-10-29T22:10:01Z <p>A jury has awarded more than $16 million to the family of an individual who died from injuries after participating in a radio station water drinking contest.</p> <p>The family of radio station contestant Jennifer Strange was awarded $16,577,118 after a jury concluded Entercom Sacramento, who operates KDND 107.9 &quot;The End,&quot; was negligent after ignoring several warnings that a morning show contest could have fatal consequences.</p> <p>In 2007, Jennifer Strange was one of several participants KDND's &quot;Hold Your Wee For A Wii&quot; contest, in which participants held their urine and drank copious amounts of water with the hopes of wining a Nintendo Wii video game console.</p> <p>Strange, who came in second place and received a consolation prize of local concert tickets, began complaining of an upset stomach and a headache toward the end of the contest. She was later found dead by a relative in her home.</p> <p>During the contest, the station received at least one phone call from a woman claiming to be a nurse, warning the morning show DJs at KDND that drinking large amounts of water was dangerous. The DJs laughed the concern off, stating that participants had signed waivers releasing the station from any liability.</p> <p>The death of Strange led to the firings of several involved with the morning show contest by Entercom Communications. </p> <p>---</p> <p><em>Matthew Keys is an online news writer for FOX40.com and community contributor to The Sacramento Press.</em></p> <p><em>Photo courtesy Tribune Broadcasting.</em></p> Matthew Keys 2009-10-29T22:10:01Z