indianapolis stage collapse - At least four people were killed and 40 others injured on Sunday when a stage, where the country group Sugarland was set to perform, collapsed during a massive storm in the US city of Indianapolis.
"A big gust of wind came through. All the scaffolding and speakers, all that came crashing down and the whole stand just collapsed," a man who witnessed the incident was quoted as saying by CNN. The strong wind brought down the stage shortly before 9 pm (local time).
The incident was declared as a Level 1 emergency. The collapse occurred just after singer Sara Berelleis had finished her set and show headliners Sugarland was to take the stage next.
"I'm speechless and feel so helpless," Bareilles said on her Twitter page. ‘My heart aches for the lives lost’. The viewers were evacuated to a nearby building following the tragedy.
Hundreds of fans had gathered for the concert when the storm struck the Indiana State Fair where the American country music group Sugarland was to perform.
Capt Brad Weaver, commander of special operations for the Indiana State Police, said he took the stage to warn the audience of severe weather. Ten minutes later, the wind gust blew through. He said he ‘saw the framework from the stage start to come over.’
Earlier this month, severe weather caused a stage to collapse before a Flaming Lips performance in Oklahoma.
