At least four people were killed and 40 injured when a stage structure collapsed at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, local officials said early Sunday. The tragedy occurred late Saturday when a gust of wind brought down the stage rigging prepared for a country music concert shortly before 9pm, police said.
WTHR television put the number of injured – suffering from cuts and bruises to fractures and head trauma – at about 46. The TV station said the injured included a seven-year-old boy. All were being treated at Indianapolis area hospitals, but authorities indicated the death toll could climb again as some injuries were “very serious.”
There was no immediate information available on the four people killed, just a warning that the toll could mount. “I want to be very frank that there is a possibility we could have other deaths,” Indiana State Police spokesman Dave Bursten told reporters. “We hope that everybody will be praying for those injured people.”
Nobody was performing at the stage when the tragedy occurred. Witnesses said the opening act had finished, and the crowd was waiting for the country music band Sugarland to begin its concert. “All of the sudden there was a second gust and the stage started to twist slowly. The grandstand started to shake. Everyone started to run instantly to try and get out,” eyewitness Jason Scofield told WTHR.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Marion County at around 8.35pm Saturday, just before was concert was to begin, according to WTHR. Emergency crews and fans quickly converged on the collapsed stage and worked to free those who were trapped, the Indianapolis Star newspapers reported.
