Celebrity News August 14, 2011
Stage Collapse at Sugarland Concert Kills 5
A stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair Saturday night killing five people, moments before the country band Sugarland was to perform.
The main stage fell on the crowd waiting for Sugarland to perform after being blasted by winds as strong as 60 to 70 mph, according to the National Weather Service. There were also 45 people injured.
Shortly after the accident, Sugarland said on Twitter: "We are all right. We are praying for our fans, and the people of Indianapolis. We hope you will join us. They need our strength."
Sugarland's lead singer Jennifer Nettles later expressed her horror in a statement to Associated Press, saying there were "no words to process a moment of this magnitude and gravity."
The state police, monitoring the severe weather, were preparing to evacuate the area but weren't able to in time. Scores of concertgoers rushed to the stage to lift broken scaffolding and equipment off people.
"People put themselves in jeopardy...and it's gratifying to know that at a moment's notice people will jump in to help others," said Indiana State Police Sgt. Rich Myers.
