MATT STEINER
THE GAZETTE
A special effect designed to close a television show ended in tragedy at an El Paso County shooting range, the businesses owner said Friday.
El Paso County Sheriff's detectives were at the Dragonman's shooting range Friday morning investigating the fatal accident that happened Thursday evening as a television crew worked to film an episode of an unnamed cable show focused on
military vehicles at the business east of Colorado Springs.
Deputies haven't named the woman who died, but the proprietor of Dragonman's, Melvin Bernstein identified the victim as his wife,
51-year-old Terry Flanell.
Bernstein said he, Flanell and three other family members were on the range as crews worked to film them walking through a haze of smoke. But the smoke bombs used for the show detonated, he said, flying through the air like rockets.
Bernstein said the flying debris missed others in the group, but hit his wife.
"
They went right through her body, she didn't suffer or nothing," Bernstein said. "She just dropped."
Bernstein didn't name the production company, but said the show was slated for a 13-episode run on a cable channel focused on military topics.
Sheriff's office spokesman Sgt. Joe Roybal said deputies waited until daybreak to continue work that began shortly after the incident occurred during the filming of a national television show.
"It's difficult to process a scene when it's dark," Roybal said.
Bernstein said the smoke-filled shot was supposed to conclude the show, warping up eight days of filming at the range.
Thursday's death was the second accident in two days associated with filming at the shooting range east of Schriever Air Force Base. A woman who suffered burns Wednesday, was treated at Memorial Hospital and released, authorities said.
Foul play is not suspected in either incident.
