(WBKI)(WHAS11)-Black Friday can mean great bargains, but the rush to get them can turn deadly. Last year, a Wal-Mart employee was accidentally trampled to death by a mob outside a New York store. So this year some stores are setting up safety precautions for staff and customers. The mad dash for bargains can be entertaining to watch, but last year, Thanksgiving weekend in New York, it was horrific. A Long Island Wal-Mart security guard was trampled to death in a stampede on Black Friday.
“People were screaming, people were coming in the store, passing out, falling out, it was a horrible sight.” Says Emmanuel Moultrie
Emmanual Moultrie was there when the doors opened at 5am. The crowd surged forward, glass shattered, and guard, Jimmy Damour, was caught in the middle.
“I mean, you had at least 7 to 8 people on top of each other. You didn't even see them. They were on top of him. And they were stuck because they were squished.” Moultrie says
Wal-Mart avoided criminal prosecution by agreeing to improve crowd control at all New York stores. Now the giant retailer says it’s also voluntarily instituting changes nationwide this week.
“We're committed to looking for ways to make our stores even safer for our customers and our associates this holiday season.” Says a Wal-Mart spokesperson
Changes may include snaking lines inside and outside stores and scattering sales items. Some stores will remain open 24 hours during Thanksgiving Day through the weekend so that when Black Friday hits at 5am; shoppers can already be inside, possibly avoiding chaos.
