WATCH ABOVE: The New Hampshire fire marshal now says a 41 year old man and his 8 year daughter died from blunt force trauma when a circus tent collapsed on them Monday. It happened during a powerful storm that authorities say was a microburst. Marlie Hall has the latest from Lancaster, New Hampshire.
LANCASTER, N.H. – Safety officials in New Hampshire worked through the night investigating the collapse of a circus tent during a severe storm that killed two spectators and injured at least 22 other people.
Authorities were looking at how the tent was put up at the Lancaster Fairgrounds, about 90 miles north of the capital of Concord. They also were talking to survivors and witnesses.
Fire Marshal William Degnan said it was the first time his agency had investigated a tent collapse.
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The storm, packing 60 mile-an-hour gusts and hail, blew through around 5:30 p.m. Monday, just as the first of two scheduled shows was beginning.
Degnan said about 100 people were inside the tent at the time, and a man and a girl died. Their names were not released. The injured were taken to four regional hospitals. Their conditions were not immediately known.
The circus operator, Sarasota, Fla.-based Walker International Events, did not return a call seeking comment late Monday. The circus was scheduled to head to Bradford, Vermont, for shows on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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