Knocked Loose Donates $8,000 to Woman Paralyzed in Louder Than Life Accident
A devastating accident unfolded far from the pit; now the Kentucky hardcore band is helping Jamie Ulshoffer face the costs of a life-changing injury.
Knocked Loose has donated $8,000 to a fundraiser supporting Jamie Ulshoffer, the woman left paralyzed after another attendee fell from a tree and landed on her during the band's performance at Louder Than Life.
The accident occurred Friday, Sept. 18, near the back of the tented Impact Stage area at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. Ulshoffer was watching Knocked Loose when a man who had climbed a nearby tree fell after a limb broke, landing directly on top of her.
Nearby officers provided first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. Ulshoffer was then transported to UofL Hospital, where doctors determined that her spinal cord had been severed. She was left paralyzed from the waist down and has been told that she may never walk again.
Ulshoffer told local reporters that she does not remember the accident itself and only recalls waking up in the hospital. She remains unable to feel her feet and has spoken about the emotional weight of no longer being able to do many of the things that once made up her everyday life.
The Tennessee resident attended the festival with her husband, Conor. The couple shares a deep connection to music and first met while line dancing. Conor said he turned around during the performance and found his wife lying on her back before other attendees explained that a man had fallen from the tree.
Ulshoffer's niece, Cheyenne Will, launched a GoFundMe to help the couple cover medical bills and other expenses connected to her recovery. Knocked Loose subsequently contributed $8,000 to the campaign, becoming its largest publicly reported donor.
The fundraiser has now surpassed $30,000 of its $40,000 goal, with hundreds of additional donations arriving from members of the music community. The campaign states that all funds will go toward Ulshoffer's medical expenses and the uncertain costs she and her family will face moving forward.
The injury was unrelated to Knocked Loose's performance or ordinary crowd activity. The accident happened near the rear of the stage area after rain had passed through the festival earlier in the day. Police said the tree limb broke beneath the man who had climbed it.
Louder Than Life representatives declined to provide details about the incident, citing patient privacy. It remains unclear whether the man who fell from the tree will face charges or other legal action.
Knocked Loose has not issued an extended public statement about the donation. The contribution itself, however, provided a significant boost to the fundraiser as Ulshoffer and her family begin confronting the long-term medical, financial and personal consequences of the accident.
The GoFundMe supporting Jamie Ulshoffer remains active.
