Skater Dies After Fall at Metrodome

Skaters in the News > Rollerdome accident

Man Dies After Fall at Rollerdome
Carl Comparoni had skated 10,000 miles at the Metrodome
By Planet staff

Carl Comparoni was a regular fixture of the Rollerdome skate sessions at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

"I can realistically say that I don't remember a day that he wasn't here," says Rollerdome owner Mike Cofrin. "Day in and day out, he was the first guy at the door."

Last Wednesday, the 53-year-old St. Paul, Minn., fire inspector was skating his usual 20-mile workout on the upper concourse when he fell backward and hit his head.

He suffered brain injuries and died Sunday.

A collision with another skater may have triggered the fall, although at this point, it's not clear, Cofrin said.

What is clear is that Comparoni wasn't wearing a helmet.

"I really, really believe, and the doctors also said, had he had a helmet on, this wouldn't have happened," his sister, Mary Guerin, told the Star-Tribune. "This is so tragic. It could've been avoided."

Comparoni's death is the first for the Rollerdome, which has served more than 500,000 skaters during its 15-year history.

Rollerdome skaters are encouraged but not required to wear helmets. "We plan to find new ways to educate and inspire people to wear helmets," Cofrin said.

Comparoni's training partner at the Metrodome was Jim Hoffner.

"By Jim's estimate, they skated 10,000 miles together here," said Cofrin. "That's something like 25,000 laps. ... This is a really sad day for us. Carl was a good friend of the Dome."

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(posted on March 15, 2006)