Radio station fires 10 after contestant dies

A radio station fired 10 employees Tuesday, including three morning disc jockeys, after a mother of three died following an on-air water-drinking contest last week at the station’s studios.

The hosts of KDND-FM’s “Morning Rave” -- who go by the on-air names Trish, Maney and Lukas -- were fired a day after the Sacramento-area station announced it was suspending the show and investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Jennifer Lea Strange.

Strange, 28, died after participating in a water-drinking contest on the program.

She was one of about 18 contestants who tried to win a Nintendo Wii gaming console early Friday by seeing how much water they could drink without going to the bathroom. The show’s DJs called the contest “Hold Your Wee for a Wii.”

John Geary, vice president and general manager of KDND parent company Entercom/Sacramento, made the announcement Tuesday in an e-mail to reporters. “Effective immediately, the ‘Morning Rave’ program is canceled and 10 employees are no longer with the station.”

A company spokesman, Charles Sipkins, confirmed that the three DJs, as well as two other on-air personalities, were among those fired. Five other employees who worked on the “Morning Rave” also were let go.

In all, according to witness reports, Strange may have drunk nearly two gallons.

Following the contest, Strange called in sick to work. About five hours later she was found dead at her home.

The Sacramento County coroner said preliminary autopsy findings indicated that she died of water intoxication.

Drinking large quantities of water rapidly can throw off the body’s balance of electrolytes, causing brain swelling and leading to seizures, coma and death.

Strange told a fellow contestant she wanted the Nintendo for her two sons and daughter.