A veterinary technician was hospitalized with a broken pelvis after a 31/2-ton elephant she was treating knocked her down and did a "headstand" on her.
Gail Hedberg was nearly crushed to death by Tinkerbelle, a 22-year-old Asian elephant, who some keepers said had been routinely beaten by her trainers. San Francisco Zoo officials had no comment on the allegations of mistreatment.Hedberg, a nine-year veteran of the zoo, remained hospitalized in stable condition Sunday at San Francisco General Hospital. She had been treating an abscess on Tinkerbelle's head Saturday when she apparently hit a sensitive spot.