Indiana governor Mitch Daniels addressed the media Sunday, addressing the collapse of a stage in Indiana that killed 5 people.
“There was no way we could have foreseen how a gust of wind could have harmed structures there,” Mr. Daniels said.
“Individual Hoosiers ran to the trouble not from the trouble,” said Mr. Daniels. “People rushing up, saying, ‘I’m a trained doctor, or EMS worker,’ and also peple who simply pitched in. It’s the character associated with our state. I want to say thank you to them.”
Mr. Daniels called the collapse “freakish,” saying at a news conference that a storm was anticipated but the blast of wind that whipped through the grandstand area was unexpected. The Indiana Republican said precautions were taken before Saturday night’s storm, but no one could have foreseen such a strong gust focused in one place.
The victims were identified as Alina Bigjohny, 23, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Christina Santiago, 29, of Chicago; Tammy Vandam, 42, of Wanatah, Ind.; Glenn Goodrich, 49, and Nathan Byrd, 51.
The stage collapsed just moments before the band Sugarland was scheduled to begin. Sugarband singer Jennifer Nettles issued a statement following the collaspe.
“I am so moved,” she said. “Moved by the grief of those families who lost loved ones. Moved by the pain of those who were injured and the fear of their families. Moved by the great heroism as I watched so many brave Indianapolis fans actually run toward the stage to try and help lift and rescue those injured. Moved by the quickness and organization of the emergency workers who set up the triage and tended to the injured.”
