Four people were killed and at least two dozen people were injured shortly before 9 p.m. tonight when a stage collapsed during a storm at the Indiana State Fair's Sugarland concert.
Independent state police officers said both the death and injury tolls may be higher. Reports said Indiana Fire Department took 24 people to hospitals. A press conference with Cindy Hoye, the fair's executive director, and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard was set to begin soon.
Medics and rescue crews throughout Indianapolis converged on the State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., after Hoosier Lottery Grandstand stage rigging for an outdoor concert collapsed, trapping and injuring fans. Preparations were under way at 10 p.m. to inflate large air bags to lift the rigging from the track.
Injured people were being taken to Methodist Hospital, according to Indiana State Police.
Sugarland posted this on Twitter just before 10 p.m.: "We are all right. We are praying for our fans, and the people of Indianapolis. We hope you'll join us. They need your strength."
Fallen stage rigging extended about 15 feet onto track, where up to 200 concert-goers were seated between the stage and the grandstand in a VIP area called the "Sugar Pit."
Thousands of people attending the Sugarland concert were awaiting the start of the country band's show when the rigging for the stage fell onto the track.
"It was like it was in slow motion," said concert-goer Amy Weathers. "You couldn't believe it was actually happening."
Emily Davis, who was in the Sugar Pit, told WTHR, the Star's newsgathering partner, the crowd had been told it could be evacuated if the storm grew worse and a short time later the stage collapsed.
Other concert-goers told WTHR that a gust came from the west and rocked the rigging, causing some panic in the crowd prior to the stage's collapse.
Emergency workers established a command center and triage area to tend to the injured. Those hurt were being moved to a tunnel below the Grandstand stage. A hole was reportedly being dug in the dirt track to try to reach people trapped beneath the rigging.
Indiana Homeland Security has declared a Level 1 emergency.
People were told they could evacuate to a nearby building minutes before the collapse, when winds were strong. Heavy rain and winds estimated as high as 60 mph were reported from the storm after the collapse. A severe thunderstorm warning had been issued at 9:09 p.m.
According to Indianapolis Star reporter David Lindquist, who was at the concert to review the Suglarland performance, the entire stage rigging collapsed at the track.
Lindquist described a chaotic scene after a storm gust took out the apparatus between the opening and main acts shortly before 9 p.m.
