DJs in fatal water contest blast managers

Two disc jockeys fired days after a 28-year-old Rancho Cordova woman's death was linked to an on-air radio contest say radio station managers hung them out to dry after the tragedy.

Lukas Cox and Steve Maney say they believed management had vetted the water-drinking contest, but later learned they had not.

"When it came to us, we thought it was a safe contest," Cox said. "If we had known what could have happened, we would have never done the contest."

Cox and Maney maintain they did their jobs and said Thursday they plan to file a wrongful termination lawsuit.

Theirs would be the third lawsuit lodged against Entercom, the parent company of KDND (107.9 The End), as a result of the deadly contest. Relatives of Jennifer Strange, the woman who died, as well as the winner and two other contestants have filed two separate lawsuits.

Trish Sweet, the third DJ who hosted the show, is not suing. She has found a new radio job in Orlando, Fla., and is using the on-air name Jayde.

Entercom spokesman Charles Sipkins released the following statement Thursday: "This was an unfortunate accident and we continue to extend our deepest sympathy to the Strange family. However, we will not comment on personnel matters."

The day of the contest -- Jan. 12 -- the station brought 20 people to the Madison Avenue break room, where they drank as much water as they could without urinating.

Jennifer Strange, who came in second place after drinking more than two gallons of water, died in her home hours after the contest. Sacramento County coroner's officials ruled that her death was consistent with water intoxication.

During the contest, Strange spoke on air -- slowly -- complaining of a headache and feeling lightheaded.

A caller warned the disc jockeys that people can die from water intoxication.

One DJ said: "Maybe we should have researched this." Another brushed off the warning: "They signed releases, so we're not responsible."

Cox said Thursday the DJs dismissed those callers, suspicious that they could be trying to sway the outcome.

"We assumed the callers were trying to get other contestants out of the contest," Cox said.

Strange's death was covered in the national, British and Australian media, generating debate on the nature of personal vs. corporate responsibility.

Sacramento attorney Roger Dreyer, who represents Strange's husband and three children in a civil lawsuit, said he has taken sworn testimony from about 30 people involved with the contest.

He said it is obvious the local station did not clear the contest with corporate executives.

"Entercom had in place specific policies and procedures that were to be followed -- but were not," Dreyer said.

He said the station's on-air talent testified that they believe the corporation would not have allowed a risky contest.

"They trusted Entercom," he said. "If they had known the contest would be dangerous, they would have never participated in it."

Cox said the station's legal advisers had quashed one contest before. In it, contestants would have tried their luck with "Plinko," a game played on "The Price is Right," and pierced designated body parts.

Cox and Maney maintain that during the show, they did what they were paid to do. "I'm paid to be the wiseass," Maney said.

Although the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department investigated the contest, the district attorney determined no one was criminally liable for Strange's death.

San Leandro attorney James Farinaro, who represents Cox and Maney, did not say when he plans to file their lawsuit.

In May, Sacramento attorney Parker White sued on behalf of the contest winner, Lucy Davidson, and contestants Victoria Myers and Gina Sherrod. They allege that Entercom, some KDND managers and personalities engaged in negligence, causing them personal injury and emotional distress.

Days after the contest, Myers told The Bee that she drank so much water she felt ill. She lay on the floor of the break room, her teeth chattering, according to Myers and other contestants.

About the writer:

• The Bee's Christina Jewett can be reached at (916) 321-1201 or cjewett@sacbee.com.