- Danielle Uskiwich, a 28-year-old school secretary, died after being kicked in the head by a crowd surfer at Pointfest in Missouri.
- She suffered a brain bleed and subsequent strokes, leading to her hospitalization and emergency surgery.
- Uskiwich was honored through organ donation, providing a second chance at life for others after her tragic death.
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MISSOURI — Days after a Missouri man was sentenced to life for killing and decapitating his mother, another Missouri tragedy is making headlines. This time, a 28-year-old school secretary died after she was reportedly kicked in the head by a crowd surfer at a rock festival.
Danielle Uskiwich was attending Pointfest in Maryland Heights on May 16 when the injury happened. Her family said she was watching the band Sleep Theory perform when another concertgoer accidentally struck her in the head while crowd surfing.
Headache Led to Hospital Visit
At first, Uskiwich did not think the injury was serious.
Three days after the concert, she went to the hospital because she had a severe headache. Doctors later found that she had developed a brain bleed. Her family said doctors believed the injury may have been caused by the kick at the concert.
Uskiwich later suffered two strokes while in the hospital. She also underwent emergency surgery, where doctors removed blood and several blood clots.
Placed in Medically Induced Coma
After surgery, Uskiwich was placed in a medically induced coma to help reduce swelling in her brain and give her body time to recover.
Her family said doctors also discovered an unidentified underlying condition during the surgery. They said the condition may have gone unnoticed if the brain bleed had not happened.
Uskiwich died on May 26, ten days after the concert.
Family Honors Her Through Organ Donation
Her family said they were heartbroken by her death but chose to honor her kind spirit through organ donation.
Uskiwich was given an honor walk through the hospital, surrounded by family, friends, and medical staff. She was then taken to Mid-America Transplant in St. Louis for organ donation.
Her relatives said the decision gave others a second chance at life, even during the family’s grief.
Remembered by Loved Ones
Uskiwich worked as an attendance secretary at St. Charles High School, which is only a few miles from the concert venue.
She had become engaged to her fiancé, Jason, in August 2025. The couple had planned to get married in April.
Her family remembered her as someone with a kind heart, a bright smile, and a warm spirit. They said people were drawn to her because of her humor and the way she made others feel loved.
Uskiwich was also a lifelong St. Louis Blues fan and loved music and traveling.
Festival Details
Pointfest is an annual music festival hosted by the St. Louis alternative rock station 105.1 The Point. The event is held at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights.
This year’s lineup included Sleep Theory, Blue October, Mammoth, Highly Suspect, and headliner Staind.
For Uskiwich’s family and friends, what started as a night of music became a loss they never expected.
To view more cases involving tragic accidents, public events, and sudden deaths in crowded places, check out our video here:
