WATCH ABOVE: Stage collapses during high school performance
WESTFIELD, Ind. – More than a dozen students suffered minor injuries after a stage filled with students collapsed during a musical performance at a central Indiana high school, authorities said Friday.
Capt. Charles Hollowell of the Westfield Police Department said all of the injuries the students suffered in the collapse Thursday evening were minor, and that they are “doing really well,” including one who initially was reported in critical condition.
Authorities say a large group of students was on the stage during the grand finale of the “American Pie” concert at Westfield High School when the floor collapsed into the orchestra pit.
WATCH ABOVE: As Don Champion reports, stunned people in the audience caught the whole thing on camera.
Get daily National news
Westfield Washington Schools Superintendent Mark Keen said it appears that a cover that is placed over the orchestra pit for some productions gave way, causing the collapse.
Video supplied to The Associated Press by Zach Rader – who was in the audience – shows more than a dozen students dancing and clapping on stage while a female student sings along to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Most students then suddenly plummet out of sight, the music cuts off and screams are heard.
Blake Rice, an 18-year-old senior at the school about 20 miles (30 kilometres) north of Indianapolis, said he was playing guitar in the performance, a tribute to ’80s music.
As the last song began, Rice said he took a step back to allow more students onto the stage. He saw the stage collapse but did not fall through.
“At first, it didn’t seem real. It didn’t really register with me what happened,” Rice said.
Rice said people in the audience immediately ran toward the stage and began pulling debris off students. Auditorium staff pulled people out of the pit, he said.
“I realized how lucky I was,” Rice said. “Another 3 seconds and that could have been me.”
Comments