Elephant kills groomer in circus accident

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WILKES-BARRE, Pa., April 10 (UPI) -- A groomer was killed by a startled African elephant between circus performances in Pennsylvania in what a spokesman said was an accident.

Wilkes-Barre Police Lt. Steve Olshefki said the attack Friday afternoon was apparently triggered when the animal came into contact with some electrical wires, upsetting it, The Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader reported. No one witnessed the stomping.

The Irem Shrine Circus had completed its morning performance at the 109th Armory. The evening performance went on as scheduled, but Dumbo, the only elephant with the circus, did not appear.

"We've asked the circus if they wanted to perform tonight and as true performers they wanted the show to go on," spokesman John Richards said, the Times-Leader reported.

Richards described the death as a "tragic accident." He said the dead man, who had not been identified because his family had not been notified, worked directly for the elephant's trainer.

The show began with a moment of silence. The audience was told only that there had been an accident, not that it was fatal.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Luzerne County coroner are investigating the death.