Death toll reaches 5 in Indiana State Fair Sugarland stage collapse

The names of the five people who died in the accident were reported at a press conference this morning.

The four who died at the scene are Tammy Vandam, 42, Wanatah, Ind.; Glenn Goodrich, 49, Indianapolis; Alina Bigjohny, 23 Fort Wayne; Christina Santiago, 29, Chicago. Nathan Byrd, 51, Indianapolis, died at Methodist Hospital earlier today.

There's still a possibility of further fatalities, State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten said.

In the conference that began at about 10 a.m. at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Gov. Mitch Daniels was joined by State Fair Director Cindy Hoye and Bursten.

Gov. Daniels was choked up as he began talking about emergency response.

"What you saw last night was a display of best qualities, both public and private, of Hoosiers," Daniels said.

Bursten updated previous injury numbers that 45 people were taken to the hospital last night. He said the early indication is it was an "isolated significant wind gust" and the midway and other areas on the ground weren't damaged as severely.

Daniels said he stands by the State Fair's preparedness measures, citing that this was an unexpected occurrence -- the storm was expected at 9:15, but arrived 30 minutes earlier.

Hoye said the fair will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday with a memorial service at 9 a.m. on the Free Stage.

Hoye said the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration, IOSHA, is investigating the structure of the stage.

UPDATE: 8:06 a.m.

Several area hospitals this morning were still treating patients who were injured by collapsed stage rigging at Saturday's Indiana State Fair Grandstand concert.

Among the five killed and about 40 who were rushed to hospitals after the 8:44 p.m. collapse were fans and stage crew members. Still unclear this morning was the extent of the injuries or the patients' conditions, but at least a handful are reportedly in critical condition or intensive care units. Three children were still being treated at Riley Hospital for Children.

Family members and friends of the injured are waiting to hear good news, but the Indiana State Police has said more deaths were possible. Outside Methodist Hospital at 6:30 a.m., a stage crew member who worked at Saturday's Sugarland concert said his worst fears had just been confirmed -- his friend, another crew member from Indianapolis, was declared dead just before dawn, he said.

The report of another fatality has not yet been confirmed by authorities, and the stage crew member declined to be interviewed. He did say his friend had been working up in the rigging when the collapse happened, and was crushed. Both are members of Local 30 of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees.

Thirteen patients were brought to Methodist following the collapse. IU Health officials did not release patients' conditions this morning, but a statement issued at 6 a.m. said 12 patients were still being treated. Wishard Memorial Hospital, which also received a stead stream of ambulance traffic last night, said it took in 18 patients, all having non-life-threatening injuries.

Methodist reported another 10 "walk-in" patients, several of whom were still hospitalized. According to WTHR (Channel 13), The Star's newsgathering partner, walk-ins were also reported by Community East Hospital and Wishard.

WTHR reported that a 17-year-old boy at Methodist has a broken back and his mother says he may never walk again.

All three patients taken to Riley following the collapse were still hospitalized this morning, IU Health said.

At Methodist, according to the IU Health statement, about 60 nurses and doctors were on hand last night -- double the 25 to 30 typically working on a Saturday night.