$50 laptop offer spurs stampede 17 injured as 5,500 rush to buy 1,000 used computers in Va.

RICHMOND, Va. -- A rush to purchase $50 used laptops turned into aviolent stampede Tuesday, with people getting thrown to the pavement,beaten with a folding chair and nearly driven over. One woman wetherself rather than surrender her place in line.

"This is total, total chaos," said Latoya Jones, 19, who lost oneof her flip-flops in the ordeal and limped around on the sizzlingblacktop with one foot bare.

About 5,500 people turned out at the Richmond InternationalRaceway in hopes of getting their hands on one of the four-year-oldApple iBooks. The Henrico County school system was selling 1,000 ofthe computers to county residents. New iBooks cost between $999 and$1,299.

Line formed 5 hours early

Officials opened the gates at 7 a.m., but some people had beenwaiting since 1:30 a.m. When the gates opened, it became a terrifyingmob scene.

People threw themselves forward, screaming and pushing each other.A little girl's stroller was crushed in the stampede. Witnesses saidan elderly man was thrown to the pavement, and someone in a car triedto drive his way through the crowd.

Seventeen people suffered minor injuries, with four requiringhospital treatment, Henrico County Battalion Chief Steve Wood said.

There were no arrests, and the iBooks sold out by 1 p.m.

"I think that people tend to get caught up in the excitement ofthe event -- it almost has an entertainment value," said Paul Proto,director of general services for Henrico County.

Blandine Alexander, 33, said one woman standing in front of herwas so desperate to retain her place in line that she urinated onherself.

"I've never been in something like that before, and I never againwill," said Alexander, who brought her 14-year-old twin boys to thecomplex at 4:30 a.m. to wait in line.

Ouch

Jesse Sandler said he was one of the people pushing forward, usinga folding chair he had brought with him to beat back people who triedto cut in front of him.

"I took my chair here, and I threw it over my shoulder and I went,'Bam,' " the 20-year-old said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to thescreen of his new iBook, as he tapped away on the keyboard at atesting station.

"They were getting in front of me and I was there a lot earlierthan them, so I thought that it was just," he said. AP