By Susan Guyett
INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - A fifth person has died
from the collapse of an outdoor concert stage in heavy wind
just before a weekend show at the Indiana State Fair,
authorities said Sunday.
More than 40 people were injured in the collapse on
Saturday night, Indiana State Police said.
The collapse occurred just minutes before the country duo
Sugarland was set to begin performing.
Concert officials had informed spectators that the show
might have to be postponed due to the winds, but a strong gust
blew the stage over before any official evacuation order was
issued.
Authorities had initially put the death toll at four.
One of those killed was stagehand Nate Byrd, 52, who was on
the stage at the time of the accident.
An amateur video posted on YouTube showed a heavy gust of
wind blowing down the stage rigging. People in the crowd can be
heard screaming.
Spectators tried to hold up parts of the collapsed stage
that fell into the standing area below to help anyone who might
be trapped, eyewitnesses said.
The fair was closed Sunday but expected to reopen on
Monday.
Sugarland sent a Twitter message about the incident,
saying: "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."
The Hoosier Lottery Grandstand at the state fairgrounds can
seat more than 15,000 people.
(Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst, Barbara Goldberg and Eric Beech)
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