BUTLER - A lawsuit against Slippery Rock University and others says one of its athletes was struck by a flying object at a track and field event.
Earnest Zilka III sued Slippery Rock University, the State System of Higher Education, the Department of General Services and the Higher Education Facilities Authority in the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County on Dec. 29.
Zilka was a track-and-field athlete for Slippery Rock when on April 8, 2022, he was at the school's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium Complex for an event. Zilka participated in the hammer throw.
"(T)he Plaintiff was waiting outside the cage which was the designated area for athletes and coaches to warm up, wait for and stage for their turn to participate in the hammer throw event," the suit says.
"(A) hammer ball thrown by a competitor... went through the cage, striking the plaintiff in the face while he waited in the designated area for athletes and coaches."
Zilka's lawyer is Terrence M. Ging from Carmody & Ging, LLC.