Whirlwind tosses canopy outside Rose Bowl; 4 minor injuries reported


PASADENA >> A large whirlwind outside the Rose Bowl sent a canopy airborne, resulting in four minor injuries, as preparations were being made for Thursday’s Rose Bowl Game authorities said.
Paramedics treated three men and a woman at the scene and none wished to be taken to a hospital, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. One of them sought his own medical treatment for a finger injury.
The “sporadic wind event” took place shortly before 2 p.m. in Lot H of the Rose Bowl, where Oregon will take on Florida State in the College Football Semifinals New Year’s Day.
“A strong gust of wind blew a large framed canopy up in the air,” Pasadena police Lt. Marie Sell said.
A video posted on Youtube.com shows a large whirlwind making its way through the lot, before picking up the canopy, lifting it high into the air.
About 20 people were in the area at the time, Derderian said. “It could have been a lot worse.”
Police officers and firefighters assigned to the Rose Bowl Wednesday were on-scene within seconds, she added.
But despite online speculation, the whirlwind was not a tornado, Derderian said. Lot H was closed Wednesday afternoon as officials cleaned up the mess, but was expected be reopened in time for Thursday’s Rose Bowl Game.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email