By CHRISTINE TOGNETTI ctognetti@kentuckynewera.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An iron worker who was in town for a job died Sunday after falling five stories from a window at the Holiday Inn on Fort Campbell Boulevard.

According to witness reports given to the police, Travis Lee Rader, 24, of Greenville, Tenn., was attempting to get the attention of a co-worker walking on the street outside around 6 p.m.

"The people in the room said at first he was banging on the window to try and get the guy's attention, and when that didn't work, he took a few steps back, and ran toward the window," Paul Ray, of the Hopkinsville Police Department, said.

Witnesses told police that when Rader ran toward the window he shattered it and fell through.

Holiday Inn staff first called the police thinking there was a disturbance going on, but once the officers arrived on the scene, they realized it was much more serious.

Six officers and a few detectives arrived on the scene and Rader was taken to Jennie Stuart Medical Center where he later died of multiple injuries.

The police said there were no drugs or alcohol in the hotel room when the incident took place.

Ray said this is a rare and unusual incident.

"Never in my seven-and-a-half years here have I seen something like this occur," he said.

Christine Tognetti can be reached by telephone at 887-3239, or by e-mail at ctognetti@kentuckynewera.com.

Submitted on 05/16/2005

Submitted by: gunter@utk.edu
Reference: Kentucky New Era (2 May 05)

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

Daniel said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
We haven't had one of these since the lawyer in Toronto. Running at a window is pretty bloody stupid.

Kelly said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Alright, this one blows my mind. If he couldn't get the guys attention by banging on the glass, did he think he'd be able to bang louder if he ran into it?

Jack said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I have mixed feelings about this, but perhaps since he was an iron worker, he might have thought that he was immune from falling from high places?

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