
Tragedy In Indianapolis: The Indiana State Fair reopened this morning (8/15) with a service in memory of the five who perished in Saturday evening's stage collapse: Alina Bigjohny (23), Nathan Byrd (51), Glenn Goodrich (49), Christina Santiago (29) and Tammy Vandam (42). Another 40 attendees were hospitalized, with several still in critical condition, after strong winds downed the stage's roof structure, lights and speakers as a crowd of 12,000 awaited a performance by Sugarland.
"I thank God for every fan and emergency responder, for everyone who ran to the trouble instead of away from it," Kristian Bush says in a statement posted to the Sugarland website. "The courage of those men and women will forever be with me." Jennifer Nettles says, "There are no words to process a moment of this magnitude and gravity. There are only prayers for peace in the hearts of the bereft, and prayers of thanksgiving for those who were spared or safe. A piece of our heart is left in that grandstand. May God provide peace and healing to the people of Indianapolis."
Sugarland's scheduled performance Sunday at the Iowa State Fair was canceled, with the Fair's website noting, "Aside from coping with the magnitude of the accident, the ongoing investigation prevents the band from getting what may remain of their stage equipment." Indiana State Fair officials are looking to other local venues to house shows still on the schedule, including Friday's performance by Lady Antebellum (8/19).
Just a few minutes before the tragedy occurred, WLHK/Indianapolis PD Bob Richards was asked by a Fair official to read a statement about the weather and plans for evacuation. He and three other station employees thankfully exited the stage before it fell. "I still have an incredibly anxious feeling," Richards tells Country Aircheck. "But whenever I start to feel a little bumpy or unsettled, I change my perspective to those who were injured or lost loved ones, and that sets me right." See tonight's Country Aircheck Weekly for his full interview, two more eyewitness accounts and Country radio's response. "The messages, thoughts and prayers sent to me and everyone at the station and on behalf of everyone affected mean so much more than people can imagine," Richards says. "Prayers do work."