One Dies in Radiohead Stage Collapse (VIDEO)

By On 06/16/2012 · 12 Comments · In American Idol

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There was a stage collapse at the Northeast Music Festival in Toronto today, killing one man and sending another to the hospital. This happened at around 4 pm before sold out Radiohead concert was to begin at 7:30 pm.

Police said a man in his 30s was killed by a “heavy, crushing injury” after stage scaffolding fell just before 4 p.m., trapping him underneath metal debris. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another man, 45, was taken to Sunnybrook hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Paramedics treated two other male victims for minor injuries at the scene and they were later released. All of the victims were stage workers.

“Unfortunately, four people were hurt,” Toronto police Constable Tony Vella said. “The remainder of the people, when they heard the stage coming (down), ran from the area.”

“Everybody was in place; everything was ready to go,” said Alexandra Halbert, who was working in the beer tent. “We were all just standing there waiting. I think sound check was ready to begin just before the stage collapsed.”

It remains unclear what caused the stage collapse. The weather was dry and sunny.  There was a slight breeze, according to witnesses, but nothing seemingly significant  enough to cause damage to structures.

The venue and Radiohead announced the cancellation of the concert and advised fans to stay home.

Only 10 months ago, seven died when a storm swept through the fairgrounds of the Indiana State Fair before a Sugarland concert.

Via CNN, Toronto Star

 
  • justmefornow

    This is pretty scary. I can’t even imagine the panic if it had happened a few hours later with the band and a sold out capacity crowd already there.
    Really horrible.

  • http://twitter.com/bentley1530 Bentley1530

    who is in charge of licensing and inspection of these temporary stages?  I would like to think that everything that can be done is being done to keep people safe.  

  • Anonymous

    That’s so terrible and sad. How awful.

  • http://twitter.com/mcdeallover Sunny Mc

    Yes very sad, and so scary that it could of been so much worse! In Canada we had the stage collapse in Ottawa last year, you think they would of been extra careful inspecting it.

  • Anonymous

    This sounds dreadfully familiar. I think outdoor concerts are great, but wow … you’d think they would learn a thing or two from the tragedies last summer? SMH. 

  • Anonymous

    Truly sad. Sounds like even more precaution needs to be taken to prevent these accidents in the future.

  • Axxxel

    So sad. Hope they will find out the cause of the collapse soon…

  • chessguy99

    Radiohead has a very elaborate staging for their tour. In videos, I’ve seen movable light panels that are suspended above the band. I have to wonder if venue understood how heavy these panels were.

  • Chris

    Its one of the downsides of these “temporary” summer concert stages.  It reminds me of those traveling carnivals where they pop up a Ferris Wheel or a Pirate ship.  I never get on them.

    This situation is even stranger than Sugarland since there was no weather related storm or wind…  Hope they figure it out.

  • Anonymous

    I doubt this is a venue issue.  As I said in the headlines thread, Downsview Park is a very large park and stages are temporary.  Setting up stages is not something Parks & Rec staff do on a regular basis afaik.  I suspect that some company who specialises in stage set up is the one that looked after it  and is the one that will be responsible once the investigation is complete.  Fines are quite steep in Ontario (up to $500K) and if there is any negligence or neglect of duty, criminal charges are provided for under the criminal code of Canada.  I can tell you from personal experience that investigations are thorough and the fines are real.

  • Anonymous

    I got stuck on top of a ferris wheel on my seventh birthday for five hours.  It was after a hurricane and the electricity went out; never a lover of heights, that did me in and I have not been on a ferris wheel since. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_F3XJE5GRAUMYR7Y5RYZUW7SC4U md

    I was a small child when my parents let me use the restroom at a Shell gas station located next to a pool we had spent the day at. When I went to leave, the doorknob came off in my hand leaving me trapped in the restroom. It was a traumatic experience for me but I have continued to use public restrooms when the need arises.