Tweeter Center Death Probed

Massachusetts safety regulators are investigating the death of a woman who fell from an inflatable climbing wall during a May 22nd music festival at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield.

Stacy Sarrette, 24, was about two-thirds of the way up the 28-foot wall when she fell and landed on her head in the parking lot. She died from her injuries a few days later.

In a statement, Tweeter Center GM Bruce Montgomery said, “The staff of the Tweeter Center extends heartfelt sympathy to Miss Sarrette’s family and friends for their loss. This was truly an unfortunate accident.”

The wall, owned by Just for Fun Rentals of Danvers, was part of the festivities at the WKLB Country Music Festival.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson said the investigation could lead to a recall of the Rocky Mountain inflatable climbing wall or a safety warning.

“We’re looking at the integrity of the product and whether there was a safe environment for users of the product,” he said.

The state Department of Public Safety was scheduled to hold a hearing June 3rd to determine if Just For Fun Rentals’ license to operate in Massachusetts should be revoked or suspended.

DPS spokeswoman Katie Ford told the Boston Globe the company was in violation of a number of regulations, including not properly inspecting the inflatable device and not using a properly trained or certified operator.

The amusement rental company issued a statement saying it is cooperating with state and local agencies in the investigation, and that DPS inspectors had checked out the device the previous month.

“Just For Fun has always been concerned about providing and promoting safe and responsible use and operation of inflatable amusement devices,” the statement said. “Just For Fun has complied in full with the advice and instructions it has received from the DPS.”