zombola
04-24-2015, 12:48 PM
(Reuters) - At least a dozen people were injured when a stage at an Indiana high school collapsed during a student musical performance on Thursday evening, officials said.
Westfield Police Captain Charles Howell told reporters that more than 12 people were hurt and at least one was in critical condition after the collapse of the main stage at Westfield High School, some 21 miles (34 km) north of Indianapolis.
Between 15 and 30 young performers were on the stage when it collapsed, said Matt Layton, the shift supervisor for the Hamilton County emergency dispatch center.
A video posted on Twitter purported to show the incident. Young musicians could be seen performing the Journey hit "Don't Stop Believin'" when numerous others join them, clapping and dancing just before the stage collapses.
Sara Camden, who shot the video footage, told local broadcaster FOX59 that there was pandemonium inside the auditorium after the collapse.
"A lot of people at first thought it was maybe part of an act, it was a joke or something, but it was most definitely not a joke." she said, adding that her son was on the stage but was not hurt.
The school's website said a performance of the play "American Pie" was scheduled for Thursday night.
Chris Baldwin of Westfield Washington Schools said classes would be in session on Friday. Authorities were investigating the cause of the collapse.
(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Steve Bittenbender in Louisville, Kentucky;
Westfield Police Captain Charles Howell told reporters that more than 12 people were hurt and at least one was in critical condition after the collapse of the main stage at Westfield High School, some 21 miles (34 km) north of Indianapolis.
Between 15 and 30 young performers were on the stage when it collapsed, said Matt Layton, the shift supervisor for the Hamilton County emergency dispatch center.
A video posted on Twitter purported to show the incident. Young musicians could be seen performing the Journey hit "Don't Stop Believin'" when numerous others join them, clapping and dancing just before the stage collapses.
Sara Camden, who shot the video footage, told local broadcaster FOX59 that there was pandemonium inside the auditorium after the collapse.
"A lot of people at first thought it was maybe part of an act, it was a joke or something, but it was most definitely not a joke." she said, adding that her son was on the stage but was not hurt.
The school's website said a performance of the play "American Pie" was scheduled for Thursday night.
Chris Baldwin of Westfield Washington Schools said classes would be in session on Friday. Authorities were investigating the cause of the collapse.
(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Steve Bittenbender in Louisville, Kentucky;