News: "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" backfires

Remember that radio station contest where contestants drank water without going to the bathroom in hopes of getting a Nintendo Wii? The radio station that fired ten employees over the incident? Yeah, now the people involved are being investigated by the police.

Here's the California involuntary manslaughter statute from CA Penal Code Section 192, emphasis mine (not sure if this is the charge the prosecutor will select, but it'll probably be included):

Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice...

(b) Involuntary--in the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to felony; or in the commission of a lawful act which might produce death, in an unlawful manner, or without due caution and circumspection. This subdivision shall not apply to acts committed in the driving of a vehicle.

The evidence? I'm just gonna quote GameSpot here:

The DJs had made comments joking about people dying from water intoxication during the show, according to the Sacramento Bee. There was even a discussion about a "poor kid in college"--presumably Matthew Carrington, who also died from water intoxication after a fraternity hazing ritual. One person dismissed the link by saying, "Yeah, well, he was doing other things." During the show, one DJ also admitted, "Maybe we should have researched this."

Two hours into the contest, a female caller, who identified herself as Eva, phoned in to warn the radio station that drinking too much water can kill. She said, "Those people that are drinking all that water can get sick and possibly die from water intoxication." One DJ replied, "We are aware of that," while another added, "They signed releases, so we're not responsible. It's OK."

Twenty contestants took part in the competition, including Strange, who was the runner-up. Other participants said that they became concerned when one woman lay on the ground, with her teeth chattering, and looking pale. At one point Strange was lying on the ground but told staff that she "could probably drink more" if someone could pick her up.