Indiana State Fair stage collapse
Encyclopedia
The Indiana State Fair stage collapse occurred in the Indiana State Fairgrounds grandstand
on August 13, 2011 at the Indiana State Fair
in Indianapolis
. In between live performances by Sara Bareilles
and Sugarland, at approximately 8:50 pm EDT, the above-stage fly system
was hit by a high-velocity wind gust in front of a severe thunderstorm
.
's Storm Prediction Center
in Norman, Oklahoma
issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch
number 777 for Central Indiana. This was in response to a squall line
moving out of Central Illinois
into Indiana
. At the time, the Emergency Alert System
bulletin noted that this particular thunderstorm line was capable of producing wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s).
At 8:39 pm EDT, The National Weather Service in Indianapolis issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for all of Marion County
effective until 9:45 pm EDT. This specific severe thunderstorm cell was capable of producing winds in excess of 60 miles per hour (26.8 m/s) per the warning bulletin, and was heading eastward at approximately 25 miles per hour (11.2 m/s). According to the bulletin, the storms would be near Danville, Indiana
, at approximately 8:50 pm EDT, a city that is approximately 20 miles west of The Indiana State Fairgrounds.
At approximately 8:45 pm EDT, Indiana State Police
said that a warning was issued to the crowd in the grandstand
suggesting that they may have to take cover due to the incoming severe weather. However, witnesses reported that those in the direct path of the collapsing fly system
did not evacuate per the announcement.
Approximately 10 minutes later, strong winds caused the stage to collapse, killing 4 people at the scene or shortly after and one person the next morning. Two people died from their injuries in the days following the collapse. Over 40 others were injured. It was the third major stage collapse at a concert in the summer of 2011, and the first to result in fatalities.
Shortly before the accident, WTHR
had reported that 77 miles per hour (34.4 m/s) winds were measured in Plainfield
, approximately 11 miles to the west of the fairgrounds. Later reports said that 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s) winds were recorded in Speedway
, just a few miles west of the fairgrounds.
Singer Janet Jackson
and country music band Lady Antebellum
cancelled their concerts at the fair.
The law firm Cohen & Malad filed a class action lawsuit against the state of Indiana, and several other defendants, on August 22, claiming that they were negligent.
would lead the investigation into why the stage collapsed. The same firm investigated the collapse of the World Trade Center
on 9/11 and also investigated the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis that killed 13 people.
Grandstand
A grandstand is a large and normally permanent structure for seating spectators, most often at a racetrack. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap all or most of the way...
on August 13, 2011 at the Indiana State Fair
Indiana State Fair
The Indiana State Fair is an annual fair held in Indianapolis, Indiana, usually in the month of August. The first fair was held in 1881 and the 2009 fair had the highest number of attendees at 973,902....
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. In between live performances by Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles
Sara Beth Bareilles is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She achieved mainstream success in 2007 with the hit single "Love Song", which brought her into the number one spot on the Billboard Pop 100 chart. She has sold over 1 million records in the United States alone and has been...
and Sugarland, at approximately 8:50 pm EDT, the above-stage fly system
Fly system
A fly system, flying system or theatrical rigging system, is a system of lines , blocks , counterweights and related devices within a theatre that enable a stage crew to quickly, quietly and safely fly components such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects and, sometimes, people...
was hit by a high-velocity wind gust in front of a severe thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
.
Timeline of events
At 6:00 pm EDT, the National Weather ServiceNational Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
's Storm Prediction Center
Storm Prediction Center
The Storm Prediction Center , located in Norman, Oklahoma, is tasked with forecasting the risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the contiguous United States. The agency issues convective outlooks, mesoscale discussions, and watches as a part of this process...
in Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe thunderstorm watch
[File:Annual_severe_thunderstorm_watch_frequency_in_the_United_States.svg|thumb|right|300px|Map of average annual severe thunderstorm watches in the United States between 1999 and 2008.Legend:...
number 777 for Central Indiana. This was in response to a squall line
Squall line
A squall line is a line of severe thunderstorms that can form along or ahead of a cold front. In the early 20th century, the term was used as a synonym for cold front. It contains heavy precipitation, hail, frequent lightning, strong straight-line winds, and possibly tornadoes and waterspouts....
moving out of Central Illinois
Central Illinois
Central Illinois is a region of the U.S. state of Illinois that consists of the entire central section of the state, divided in thirds from north to south. It is an area of mostly flat prairie. The western section was originally part of the Military Tract of 1812 and forms the distinctive western...
into Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. At the time, the Emergency Alert System
Emergency Alert System
The Emergency Alert System is a national warning system in the United States put into place on January 1, 1997, when it superseded the Emergency Broadcast System , which itself had superseded the CONELRAD System...
bulletin noted that this particular thunderstorm line was capable of producing wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s).
At 8:39 pm EDT, The National Weather Service in Indianapolis issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe thunderstorm warning
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when trained storm spotters or a Doppler weather radar indicate a strong thunderstorm is producing dangerously large hail or high winds, capable of causing significant damage. In the United States, it does not account for lightning or flooding...
for all of Marion County
Marion County, Indiana
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
effective until 9:45 pm EDT. This specific severe thunderstorm cell was capable of producing winds in excess of 60 miles per hour (26.8 m/s) per the warning bulletin, and was heading eastward at approximately 25 miles per hour (11.2 m/s). According to the bulletin, the storms would be near Danville, Indiana
Danville, Indiana
Danville is a town in Center Township, Hendricks County, Indiana, United States. The population was 9,001at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Hendricks County. -History:...
, at approximately 8:50 pm EDT, a city that is approximately 20 miles west of The Indiana State Fairgrounds.
At approximately 8:45 pm EDT, Indiana State Police
Indiana State Police
The Indiana State Police is the statewide law enforcement agency for the state of Indiana. Indiana was the 12th state to offer protection to its citizens with a state police force.-History:...
said that a warning was issued to the crowd in the grandstand
Grandstand
A grandstand is a large and normally permanent structure for seating spectators, most often at a racetrack. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap all or most of the way...
suggesting that they may have to take cover due to the incoming severe weather. However, witnesses reported that those in the direct path of the collapsing fly system
Fly system
A fly system, flying system or theatrical rigging system, is a system of lines , blocks , counterweights and related devices within a theatre that enable a stage crew to quickly, quietly and safely fly components such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects and, sometimes, people...
did not evacuate per the announcement.
Approximately 10 minutes later, strong winds caused the stage to collapse, killing 4 people at the scene or shortly after and one person the next morning. Two people died from their injuries in the days following the collapse. Over 40 others were injured. It was the third major stage collapse at a concert in the summer of 2011, and the first to result in fatalities.
Shortly before the accident, WTHR
WTHR
WTHR, channel 13, is a full-service television station serving the Indianapolis, Indiana metropolitan area. An affiliate of the NBC television network, its studios at 1000 N. Meridian Street anchor the south end of Indy's Television Row...
had reported that 77 miles per hour (34.4 m/s) winds were measured in Plainfield
Plainfield, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,396 people, 7,051 households, and 4,914 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,023.1 people per square mile . There were 7,449 housing units at an average density of 414.3 per square mile...
, approximately 11 miles to the west of the fairgrounds. Later reports said that 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s) winds were recorded in Speedway
Speedway, Indiana
Speedway is a town in Wayne Township, Marion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 12,881 at the 2000 census. Speedway is the home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, from which the town derives its name, and is a complete enclave of Indianapolis....
, just a few miles west of the fairgrounds.
Singer Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
and country music band Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum is an American country pop music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The trio is composed of Charles Kelley , Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott .The group made its debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman's single "Never Alone", before signing to Capitol...
cancelled their concerts at the fair.
The law firm Cohen & Malad filed a class action lawsuit against the state of Indiana, and several other defendants, on August 22, claiming that they were negligent.
Investigation
On August 16, the Indiana State Fair announced that the engineering firm of Thornton TomasettiThornton Tomasetti
Thornton Tomasetti is a 550+ person structural engineering consulting firm headquartered in New York City...
would lead the investigation into why the stage collapsed. The same firm investigated the collapse of the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
on 9/11 and also investigated the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis that killed 13 people.