7 injured in incident at Shrine Circus

Seven people were injured Sunday when a camel was startled and began bucking during what might be the last Shrine Circus at PPG Paints Arena.

Two children and an adult were on the camel when it was spooked. A child taken to UPMC Mercy hospital sustained a broken arm, which is believed to be the most severe injury from the incident.

Five other children were taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Officials did not know which hospital the adult was taken to. Officials were not able to say what caused the injuries.

During the event, an announcement was made stating that the camel was startled after a child threw a shovel at its feet, but at a news conference following the event, neither Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri nor Shrine Circus chairman Paul Leavy were able to give a cause for the camel’s actions. Mr. Leavy said he was unaware of the announcement.

The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. during an intermission, when, for a $10 fee, rides on tethered camels, ponies or elephants, led by handlers, could be purchased. There were seven ponies, three dromedary camels and three Asian elephants. Audience rides are a common feature of circuses involving animal performances.

Jenny Lynch, 40, of Oakmont said she saw the incident unfold, except for what startled the animal.

According to Ms. Lynch, who was attending the circus with her husband and three children, a woman and two small girls were on the camel when it became “like a bucking bronco.”

The bigger of the two girls fell first, Ms. Lynch said, and then “the woman was holding onto the littlest one, then she fell right onto her head.”

“The woman was trying so much to hold onto the child,” Ms. Lynch said.

Finally, the camel, still bucking, “ran toward the exit” with the woman hanging off it, before being brought under control by trainers.

“I was shouting, ‘Jesus help them.’ It was very scary,” Ms. Lynch said.

Mr. Togneri said the camel was under control in under 11 seconds.

Zarina Eminova of Carnegie said one of the injured children was her 8-year-old niece.

“My niece fell down the stairs,