Dekaney coach hit by runaway cart Several hurt after being hit at Cowboys Stadium.

ARLINGTON — Usually the only thing a victorious high school football coach has to worry about after a game is a surprise Gatorade bath.

Spring Dekaney coach Willie Amendola got a different kind of surprise Saturday in Cowboys Stadium when a runaway electric cart struck him in the back during a post-game interview at midfield.

A group of reporters interviewing Amendola also was struck, including Jerry Woodley, from the Houston area, who was taken to an Arlington hospital by ambulance.

Woodley, who does the College Sports Report for the community newspaper A King-Size View, was released Sunday morning with a badly bruised foot and a sprained ankle.

Several other people also were knocked down by the cart, including Express-News reporter Lorne Chan.

Six, in addition to Woodley, sustained minor injuries.

An unidentified individual gets medical attention after being hit by a runaway cart after the Steele-Spring Dekaney Class 5A Div. II state championship football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net less An unidentified individual gets medical attention after being hit by a runaway cart after the Steele-Spring Dekaney Class 5A Div. II state championship football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Saturday, ... more Photo: Kin Man Hui, Express-News Photo: Kin Man Hui, Express-News Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Dekaney coach hit by runaway cart 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Hundreds of people, including coaches and players, were on the field at the time when the speeding cart slammed into the group, who never saw it coming.

Broadcast footage showed people being scattered like bowling pins, and a stunned Amendola falling backwards into the cart's passenger seat as it continued rolling.

He was able to grab the steering wheel with his left hand and keep it from hitting another bystander.

“I got hit, I rolled in the back, everybody was falling down, I steered it away from that guy on the (left). Then when I got in the middle of nowhere, I rolled off of the thing,” said Amendola, whose team beat Steele 34-14 for the Class 5A Division II state championship.

As Amendola tumbled out, a pursuing field worker hopped aboard and brought the cart to a stop about 30 yards downfield.

The incident caught the attention of broadcasters who were wrapping up their coverage of the game.

“We have a disturbance down the field. Apparently one of the carts on the field got loose and I think there have been some folks injured in this,” a shaken announcer is heard commenting on air.

“Oh my! That's like a runaway cart there. And it finally took someone to stop it. That's a scary thing.”

Several people were seen on the ground as emergency personnel rushed up. One man was sprawled motionless while someone cradled his head.

Nearby, a visibly stunned man was helped to his feet.

“We are currently investigating the details that led to the accident and hope to know more soon,” said Dallas Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels, who was on the field when it happened.

The incident quickly became an Internet sensation. A YouTube video of the broadcast had almost 890,000 views Sunday evening.

The cart was parked in the corner of the west end zone when it took off and curved directly toward the group. In all, it traveled about 90 yards.

“It was one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen,” said veteran sportscaster Craig Way, who was calling the game for Fox Sports Southwest.

Express-News Staff Writer Blake Hurtik, the Associated Press and the Houston Chronicle contributed to this report.