Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse
14 August 2011, 10:18 PM
#1
Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse
http://www.baltimoresun.com/videobet...Stage-Collapse
http://www.smh.com.au/world/fifth-pe...ml?from=smh_sb
A fifth person has died from the collapse of an outdoor concert stage in heavy wind just before a weekend show at the Indiana State Fair, which was shut down on Sunday, US authorities said.
More than 40 people were injured in the collapse on Saturday night, just minutes before the country duo Sugarland was set to begin performing, Indiana State Police said.
Some of the injuries were extremely serious, and more people could die, said State Police Sergeant Dave Bursten at a news conference.
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Stage collpase ... .five people were killed and more than 40 injured. Photo: AP
"That possibility is there," he said
Concert officials had informed spectators prior to the show that the concert might have to be postponed due to the weather, but a strong gust blew the stage over before any official evacuation order was issued.
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels called the collapse "freakish", saying at the news conference that a storm was anticipated but the blast of wind that whipped through the grandstand area was unexpected.
Five dead ... the stage is seen upright, moments before heavy winds blew it over. Photo: AP
One of those killed was stagehand Nate Byrd, 51, who was on the stage rigging to run the show's spotlight. He died on Sunday at Methodist Hospital.
Killed on the scene were Tammy Vandam, 42, of Wanatah, Indiana; Glenn Goodrich, 49, of Indianapolis; Alina BigJohny, 23 of Fort Wayne and Christina Santiago, 29, of Chicago, according to the Marion County Coroner's office.
State fire marshals and the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the collapse, authorities said.
'Freakish' ... the stage collapses at the Indiana State Fair. Photo: Getty Images
http://www.smh.com.au/world/fifth-pe...ml?from=smh_sb
A fifth person has died from the collapse of an outdoor concert stage in heavy wind just before a weekend show at the Indiana State Fair, which was shut down on Sunday, US authorities said.
More than 40 people were injured in the collapse on Saturday night, just minutes before the country duo Sugarland was set to begin performing, Indiana State Police said.
Some of the injuries were extremely serious, and more people could die, said State Police Sergeant Dave Bursten at a news conference.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Stage collpase ... .five people were killed and more than 40 injured. Photo: AP"That possibility is there," he said
Concert officials had informed spectators prior to the show that the concert might have to be postponed due to the weather, but a strong gust blew the stage over before any official evacuation order was issued.
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels called the collapse "freakish", saying at the news conference that a storm was anticipated but the blast of wind that whipped through the grandstand area was unexpected.
Five dead ... the stage is seen upright, moments before heavy winds blew it over. Photo: APOne of those killed was stagehand Nate Byrd, 51, who was on the stage rigging to run the show's spotlight. He died on Sunday at Methodist Hospital.
Killed on the scene were Tammy Vandam, 42, of Wanatah, Indiana; Glenn Goodrich, 49, of Indianapolis; Alina BigJohny, 23 of Fort Wayne and Christina Santiago, 29, of Chicago, according to the Marion County Coroner's office.
State fire marshals and the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the collapse, authorities said.
'Freakish' ... the stage collapses at the Indiana State Fair. Photo: Getty Images
15 August 2011, 06:40 PM
#7
Scooby Regular
Horrific. Someone needs to answer for that! How could you make such a massive error as to not have that standing totally sound and properly braced? There's no way, even with the wind as it was, that it shouldn't still have a large margin of safety.
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16 August 2011, 12:30 PM
#9
Scooby Regular
from a structure point of view its not as simple as that, judging by the reported 'high wind' it probably became overloaded and failed. It only takes one gust to do that and there will be no wrning that anythings wrong.
only option would have been to call it off before the start, but how do you know wind is gonna actualy be that strong (weather forecasting isn;t that accurate)
only option would have been to call it off before the start, but how do you know wind is gonna actualy be that strong (weather forecasting isn;t that accurate)
16 August 2011, 02:34 PM
#10
Scooby Regular
from a structure point of view its not as simple as that, judging by the reported 'high wind' it probably became overloaded and failed. It only takes one gust to do that and there will be no wrning that anythings wrong.
only option would have been to call it off before the start, but how do you know wind is gonna actualy be that strong (weather forecasting isn;t that accurate)
only option would have been to call it off before the start, but how do you know wind is gonna actualy be that strong (weather forecasting isn;t that accurate)
16 August 2011, 02:35 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
Echo above (above!) - these stages are built to withstand an awful lot, but there are tolerances that can't cater for freakish happenings.
Obviously IF someone is accountable, then of course, throw the book at them. But I wouldn't be shouting "Witch!" just yet......
Obviously IF someone is accountable, then of course, throw the book at them. But I wouldn't be shouting "Witch!" just yet......
Last edited by ScoobyDoo555; 16 August 2011 at 02:36 PM.
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