Tragedy at The Indiana State Fair: Saturday Night…and 47 years ago.
Growing up in Indiana, the State Fair was an annual event not to be missed. I still have vivid memories of sitting on all the tractors, seeing all the impossibly sized produce and animals, and eating my way through the day with corndogs, pork chop sandwiches, lemonade shake-ups and pineapple whip ice cream.
Major performers at the Grandstand were always part of the draw. Spend the day at the Fair, catch the music at night. It was never supposed to be like this. Nothing bad happens in Indiana, certainly not at the Indiana State Fair:
VIDEO CREDIT: YouTube Upload from JSilas7
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Five people died, 45 more hospitalized. The main act, popular Country duo Sugarland, had not yet taken the stage. Thirty minutes before the collapse, opening act Sara Bareilles finished her set by commenting what a beautiful night it was. How quickly things can change. A thunderstorm and 50+ mile-an-hour winds rolled in.
Sugarland said on Twitter around 9:45 p.m. Saturday night: “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 Indiana State Fair closed Sunday, but is planning to reopen Monday morning with a memorial service slated for 9AM.
PHOTO CREDIT: The Indianapolis Star
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Indiana OSHA and contractor MidAmerica are investigating the structure of the stage.
One of the places that officials were suggesting as a shelter for a potential evacuation is just a few steps away from the grandstand on the Fairgrounds, the Pepsi Coliseum. Ironically, on Halloween night in 1963 a freak accident there changed many more lives.
From the files of the Indianapolis Star:
It was just after 11 p.m. and the (Holiday on Ice) skaters were finishing a medley called “Mardi Gras.” No one realized that propane gas was leaking from a rusty tank in the concession area, slowly filling the unventilated room. As the skaters began gliding into a pinwheel formation for the finale the gas came in contact with an electric popcorn machine. When the gas ignited, a blast of orange flame shot 40 feet up through the south side seats, catapulting people and chairs though the air.
The death toll ultimately rose to 74 from the accident.
PHOTO CREDIT: The Indianapolis Star
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A grand jury indicted the Indiana state fire marshal, the Indianapolis fire chief, the general manager and the concessions manager of the Coliseum, as well as officers of the company that supplied the gas. But there was only one conviction, the president of the gas supplier, and that verdict was later overturned by the Indiana Supreme Court. According to the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, victims and survivors ultimately received about $4.6 million in settlements.
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Bad things happen to good people. When you least expect it, your life can change forever. For reasons you cannot understand, nor control.
Sara Bareilles, who opened for Sugarland and performed on the same stage before it collapsed Saturday, posted on @SaraBareilles:
“I’m speechless and feel so helpless. Please send love and prayers to Indianapolis tonight. My heart aches for the lives lost. #indyiloveu.”
