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Coroner says artery injury killed teen hockey fan

Last Updated: Thursday, March 21, 2002 | 1:32 AM ET

CBC News

A coroner in Ohio says damage to an artery that runs from the spine into the back of the brain killed a 13-year-old girl hit by a puck at an NHL game.

Britannie Cecil suffered a fractured skull when the puck struck her head, Franklin County coroner Brad Lewis said Wednesday.

But that injury by itself was not fatal. Lewis said the puck's impact created a second injury, a small tear in the vertebral artery.

Britannie Cecil

FROM MARCH 19, 2002: 13-year-old fan killed after hit by puck at NHL game

The coroner said when the girl arrived at Children's Hospital, the damage to the artery did not show up on the initial CAT scan.

The teen from West Alexandria, Ohio was watching the Columbus Blue Jackets play the visiting Calgary Flames Saturday night and was sitting 15 rows above the ice when the puck flew over the glass.

Brittanie managed to stand and even walk away before being sent to hospital. She died three days later. Lewis said bleeding from the damaged artery, then clotting and swelling of the brain led to her death.

This story is now closed to commenting.

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Aaron Saltzman reports for CBC TV

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