Deadly Indiana Stage Collapse Kills At Least 5, Injures 40 (Photos)
A sixth person has been confirmed dead from the stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair. Reuters

The Indiana State Fair stage collapse has killed 5 people and injured 45 people, according to Indiana’s RTV6 News.

Four people were killed immediately by fallen metal scaffolding and the fifth died in a hospital overnight. Of the 45 injured people, 12 remained overnight at the hospital, reported AP. The collapse happened at 8:49 p.m. local time.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels called the tragic accident a “fluke event,” reported AP. He said the 2011 Indiana State Fair is still “the finest one we’ve ever had” and “the finest event of its kind in America.” The fair is scheduled to reopen on Monday.

Daniels said precautions were taken and the strength of the wind gust, as much as 60 to 70 mph, caught people by surprise.

According to a timeline of the accident released by the Indiana state police (via RTV6 News), fair staff was warned of the coming thunderstorm by 7:00 p.m.

By 8:30 p.m., officials were evacuating concert attendees. At 8:45 p.m., the concert emcee publicly warned the attendees of the coming storm and told them “how and where to seek shelter.”

At 8:49 p.m., the stage collapsed.

By 8:51 p.m., fair workers were on the site of the crash. By 8:55 p.m., the Indianapolis Metro Police Emergency Response Group arrived at the scene.

At 10:05 p.m., all victims, including the deceased individuals, were transported from the scene.