Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse Tragedy





This home video footage captures the scene as people watched in horror at tonight's Indiana State Fair when a concert stage prepped for a performance by Sugarland collapsed on to people sitting in the VIP seating area immediately in front of the stage. WTHR-TV reports at least 4 are dead and 43 are being treated at area hospitals. Numerous eye witnesses complain that concert organizers failed to warn the audience to evacuate the area before 70 mph gusts blew into the fairgrounds with the leading edge of severe storms that hit the Indianapolis area tonight at approximately 8:50 p.m. Event organizers say a warning was made to concert-goers that severe weather was approaching and a decision had been made to begin an evacuation, but leading wind gusts from the severe storm hit the area and toppled the stage before the evacuation was undertaken.

The video footage below shows the chaotic scene as rescue workers and volunteers scramble to aid the injured.



UPDATE: The Indiana State Fair has been cancelled for Sunday in light of Saturday night's tragedy according to the Indianapolis Star. The fair will reopen on Monday.

Local TV stations are carrying a live press conference with Gov. Mitch Daniels, Indiana State Police and state fair personnel this morning at 10:00 a.m.. One of the injured died at a local hospital as a result of injuries sustained from the stage collapse, bringing the death toll to 5. The total number of injured has been estimated to be 45.

WTHR-TV has obtained from police the identities of the five fatalities:  Tammy Vandam, Glenn Goodrich, Alina Bigjohny, Christina Santiago, Nathan Byrd.