Four Injured in Tragic Accident on the Downs at Dibley.

Bystander Kevin W. Harvie Caught the Moment of Impact on his iPhone, Purchased During a Shopping Trip to the Apple Store at Capital City.

Confederacy Times
September 14, 2010

A balloon belonging to Bud Tolberg, a longtime resident of Cloverdale and president of Cloverdale’s Odd Fellows Club and Elder at the Saved by Grace Lutheran Church collided into a row of Port a Potties at the Dibley in the Downs Balloon Festival last Saturday.

“I knew we were in trouble when that gust of wind blew in from nowhere. I was shoutin at everybody to get outta the way but I guess that’s kind of hard to do while yer trying to pull up yer pants,” he said when interviewed by Dibley Constable Sylvia Truesdale, a long time resident of Dibley, having moved there as a child when her father lost his job in Fernwood on the Moor for insubordination in 1977.

Injured in the accident were Marsha Ercanbrack, Domonique House, and Clifford and Shane Warbley.

“I had just stepped into the facilities and sat down when I heard a man yelling for everyone to get out of the way,” she said while attempting to wipe the blue toilet chemical from her pants. “Well, I didn’t know what he was on about. I mean, who would ever expect a balloon would drop from the sky and knock over the very outdoor toilet you happen to be sitting in?”

Domonique wasn’t so lucky. He was violently thrown against the wall while standing over the toilet. His head struck the Hand Sanitizer Dispenser knocking him unconscious. The door popped open spilling him out onto the lawn. According to his wife he is home resting comfortably and enjoying extra attention from his family.

Life long brothers Clifford and Shane Warbley emerged from their respective toppled potties drenched in blue chemical uninjured. A few minutes later both started complaining of a headache and blurred vision. It appears both were allergic to the chemical. A few minutes later their airways started to close. Nobody in the crowd offered mouth to mouth recitation fearing the contents of the liquid. Luckily an ambulance was on hand. Both are doing well in hospital with only bruised egos to show for the day’s incident.

Bud Tolberg has been fined for recklessness in ballooning. He quarreled with the Constable, reasoning you cannot fine him for an act of God.

“Well I can’t very well fine God for this can I?” Constable Sylvia Truesdale replied while ripping off the ticket and pinning it to the balloon.