Five people are dead and many more are injured after a stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday night. The weather forecasters warned that winds could get in excess of 60 miles an hour during the storm that hit the area, but fans were still waiting for country music duo, Sugarland, to take the stage. Some of the most eager fans had already taken place in the "Sugarpit" – the area just in front of the stage – and were hit by the metal pieces as they tumbled to the ground. The band was not injured as they had not yet taken the stage at the time of its collapse.
Sgt. Dave Bursten of the Indiana State Police said at least 40 people were injured. Most were treated and released from the hospital within the evening. Nine patients were still being treated with serious injuries as of Sunday afternoon. The five who died were identified by the Marion County coroner as: Alina Bigjohny, 23, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Nathan Byrd, 51, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Glenn Goodrich, 49, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Christina Santiago, 29, of Chicago, Illinois; and Tammy Vandam, 42, of Wanatah, Indiana.
Witnesses say that many people – especially doctors and nurses – rushed to the scene just after the collapse to try to help the trapped and injured. Crews were working through the rubble late into Saturday night, and the fair was closed down on Sunday. An investigation is being launched to find possible causes for the collapse of the stage other than just the wind.
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