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Court transcripts reveal details about deadly stage collapse before Sugarland's concert

A deposition held on Jan. 16. shed light on the details of the deadly stage collapse before Sugarland’s concert at the Indiana State Fair in August. Evidence in court suggested there were different conflicts with several different parties before the tragedy.

Seven people were killed and 58 were injured after the stage collapsed due to a powerful gust of wind.

The fair’s executive director, Cindy Hoye, testified that the duo had been approached twice to determine whether the concert should be delayed or even cancelled. The band was concerned about travel time for the next show and didn’t want to delay their performance.

"They were trying to get to Iowa to play the Iowa State Fair, and so they said they did not want to delay," said Hoye in the court transcript.

Hoye was called to testify in the lawsuit filed against Mid-America Sound Corp., the company that was responsible for building the roof and riggings used to hold equipment for lighting and sound.

An internal investigations report revealed that a month before the stage collapse the fair’s officials rehearsed an emergency evacuation in case of weather conditions almost identical to the night of the tragedy.

According to The Chicago Tribune, the decision to evacuate the crowds was ultimately up to Hoye. Hoye didn’t respond to the Associated Press when called for commentary.

Other findings during the deposition also showed that the band was part of the poor decisions made the night of the stage collapse.

To Attorney Tony Patterson, the decision made by the band to continue with the concert isn’t surprising.

"I can say that the information that we learned in the deposition did not come as a significant surprise to us,” said Patterson, who represents the Sugarland fans who were injured during the tragic stage collapse. “If you look at the contract with the state....it clearly indicates that Sugarland would have the say whether to carry on with the show based on weather conditions.”
The contract stated in clause IV: It is agreed and understood that the decision to cancel any engagement hereunder due to weather conditions shall be made solely by Artist or Artist's representative at his sole discretion.

Main Photo Courtesy: Last.fm

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