Indiana State Fair closed Sunday after 5 people are killed

[onedef92]

Indiana State Fair closed Sunday after 5 people are killed, 40 more injured after stage collapse; victims ID'ed

Posted: Aug 14, 2011 9:15 AM EDT
Updated: Aug 14, 2011 11:58 AM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS – Five people are confirmed dead and at least 40 more have been injured after a huge stage platform collapsed at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis Saturday night, just before music group Sugarland was about to take to the stage.

Officials on Saturday night said four people had died; but announced around 9:00 Sunday morning that the number had grown to five.

A fan in the stands whipped out their cell phone to record video of the group about to make their appearance – never knowing that they would instead be recording a historic, tragic moment.

The video shows the stage bowing to the right before falling in and collapsing to the ground amid screams and cries of shock and horror.

Officials say a violent wind gust pounded the concert stage.

A young girl – Tory Ison – is among those injured. She suffered injured ribs in the collapse.

"The cloud of dust came, some wind, and all of a sudden you look up and it just happened so fast.. it just came down and I just saw people running and the next thing you know you look back and there's people trapped beneath the stage trying to get out," Ison told NBC News affiliate WTHR in Indianapolis.

"A lot of people under there, trapped. I'm a nurse so I went back to help; a lot of people are unconscious with broken legs, broken arms… pretty scary," said witness Jenny Chestin.

Moments after the tragic collapse, dozens of people rushed down to the stage area to jump in and help to lift the heavy rigging off the victims. Emergency responders moved in to help treat the injured.

"All of a sudden just the wind blew and the whole stands just went tumbling down just like you would see a domino effect," another witness said.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued about ten minutes before the stage collapsed. Indiana State Police say they were monitoring the weather, even preparing for a possible evacuation, but thought the storm was still 20 minutes away.

"What hit really wasn't a storm, it was a significant gust of wind, and that gust of wind is what upset all of the rigging and the structures that were above the stage and caused that collapse," said Sgt. Dave Bursten with the Indiana State Police.

As dozens of ambulances cleared the scene and the fair was evacuated and closed down Saturday night, the questions begin about how the stage collapsed – what caused it to be so unsafe? Was there something wrong with the rigging? Should the fair have been evacuated when the weather alert was issued?

Those answers are expected to come in the days – even the weeks ahead.

The Indiana State Fair has been updating the public through multiple outlets, including a post Sunday morning on its Facebook page. A statement reads:

"You have no doubt heard about the tragedy that struck our fair Saturday evening. We mourn for the victims and their families and ask for your prayers. The fair will be closed on Sunday as we figure out how best to proceed. We are currently planning to resume the fair in some form on Monday, August 15. More information on that is forthcoming. Thanks to all those who have assisted us and continue to do so in our time of need."

Officials say it the fair will hold a memorial and prayer service for the victims. That could happen on Monday.

Questions still remain about future acts planned at this year's fair. One person posted on the Indiana State Fair Facebook page this question, "Is Janet Jackson still performing Wednesday," Holly asked.

Others are offering their condolences. Kelly posted, "Prayers from Jeffersonville" while Marcia posted, "is sending sympathy and prayers to families who have suffered a tragic loss; may God give you strength to go on."

The news of this tragic collapse has gone global, being covered by countless news operations. Along with that comes more prayers. On the Indiana State Fair Facebook page, this post "Thoughts and prayers from the South Carolina State Fair."

Sugarland issued this statement on their website:

"We are all right after our stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair tonight. Many of our fans and friends in Indianapolis may not be. Please keep them in your thoughts, prayers, or whatever form of strength you are able to send. They need you. Thank you."

A Kentuckiana man, Rob Yoder, e-mailed WAVE 3 News, saying he attended the concert and is still in awe of what happened. He writes, "The winds blew the stage out onto the crowd. Absolutely horrible. No one had a chance to get out of the way."

Sunday morning, officials released the identity of four of the five victims. They are:

•Tammy Vandam, 42, of Wanatah, Indiana
•Glenn Goodrich, 49, of Indianapolis
•Christiana Santiago, 29, of Chicago
•Nate Byrd, 51, of Indianapolis

[OddBall]

:sadangel:

[onedef92]

Governor: Wind gust that fell Ind. stage a 'fluke'

Posted: Aug 14, 2011 10:16 AM EDT
Updated: Aug 14, 2011 3:26 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS - The wind gust that toppled a stage at the Indiana State Fair Saturday night, killing five and injuring dozens of fans waiting for the country band Sugarland to perform, was a "fluke" that no one could have anticipated, the governor and others said Sunday.

The wind was far stronger than that in other areas of the fairgrounds, said Dan McCarthy, chief meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Indiana. He estimated the gust at 60 to 70 mph.

Gov. Mitch Daniels said precautions were taken before the storm, but no one could have foreseen such a strong gust focused in one place. Some witnesses have said that while a storm was expected, rain hadn't begun to fall when the wind sent the stage rigging falling into the crowd of terrified fans.

"This is the finest event of its kind in America, this is the finest one we've ever had, and this desperately sad, as far as I can tell fluke event doesn't change that," Daniels said.

Four people were killed when the metal scaffolding that holds lights and other stage equipment fell, and a fifth died overnight at a hospital, Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten said. The county coroner's office identified the victims as Alina Bigjohny, 23, of Fort Wayne; Christina Santiago, 29, of Chicago; Tammy Vandam, 42, of Wanatah; and two Indianapolis residents: 49-year-old Glenn Goodrich and 51-year-old Nathan Byrd. Byrd died overnight.

Forty-five people were taken to hospitals, and some may have gone on their own, Bursten said. Indiana University Health said 12 of the 26 people treated at its hospitals were still there, including three at its children's hospital. It did not provide information about their conditions.

Dr. Dean Silas, who lives in the Chicago suburb of Deerfield, Ill., said in a telephone interview Sunday that some people died immediately. He said he was seated in the grandstand and reached the damage area within five minutes. He saw three bodies already covered with plastic.

Silas said 75 to 100 people at the show immediately began to help. It took 20 to 25 minutes to free those who were trapped, he said. He and others carried some of the injured on makeshift stretchers to a triage area under the grandstand.

He estimated it took 10 minutes for the first ambulances to arrive and for a coordinated emergency medical effort to begin.

Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles sent a statement to The Associated Press through her manager, saying she watched recaps of the collapse on the news "in horror."

"I am so moved," she said. "Moved by the grief of those families who lost loved ones. Moved by the pain of those who were injured and the fear of their families. Moved by the great heroism as I watched so many brave Indianapolis fans actually run toward the stage to try and help lift and rescue those injured. Moved by the quickness and organization of the emergency workers who set up the triage and tended to the injured."

Nettles and Kristian Bush, who perform as Sugarland, canceled their Sunday show at the Iowa State Fair.

Concert-goers said opening act Sara Bareilles had finished performing and the crowd was waiting for Sugarland to take the stage when the storm hit just before 9 p.m. They said an announcer alerted them that severe weather was possible and gave instructions on what to do if an evacuation was necessary. But the announcer also said concert organizers hoped the show would go on, and many fans stayed put.

Witnesses said dirt, dust, rain and wind came barreling up the fairground's main thoroughfare minutes later and the stage collapsed.

Jessica Alsman said the towering, metal scaffolding "kind of wobbled at first." Then pandemonium set in as it fell.

"As soon as we saw the wind gust, the wind was in our faces," Alsman said. She and three friends grabbed each other and formed a chain.

"You can't imagine - we just thought it was going to rain or something," Alsman said.

Indiana's position in the Midwest has long made it prone to volatile changes in weather. In April 2006, tornado-force winds hit Indianapolis just after thousands of people left a free outdoor concert by John Mellencamp held as part of the NCAA men's Final Four basketball tournament.

And in May 2004, a tornado touched down south of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, delaying the start of the Indianapolis 500 and forcing a nearly two-hour interruption in the race.

[78SA]

Wouldn't surprise me if there was rotation in the storm at that exact spot.