Main stage collapses at Bluesfest (photos & video)

Video posted by gastorch997 (embedding may be disabled for this video - click here to view )

The main stage at Bluesfest collapsed tonight during the Cheap Trick show. Various news outlets and people on the scene are reporting multiple injuries.  All Sunday evening shows have been cancelled.

** Yevgeniya Lytvynenko saw the stage collapse : ** “It was really sudden, stage fell in slow motion. Started hailing,

people were running.

" … ** Bill Welychka : ** “Cheap Trick leaves after wind picks up, 20 sec later, stage falls.

Worst sound ever heard.

I’m praying all are ok.” … ** Michael Powell : ** “No warnings- pa was cut on cheap trick, but they finished their song then it sorta just fell over.”

Stephanie Woods :

"There was no time for warnings or announcements.

The wind hit very quickly.” … Sabine Gibbons : “No warnings,

a funny crunching sound

, and it fell slowly.” … ** Stuart Mills : ** “A giant gust of wind picked up a tarp and garbage from across the field and flung it toward the audience and

lifted the whole stage

— where Cheap Trick had been playing — and almost like a convertible in a car, just folded it backwards in the same direction.”

Glenn Humplik :

"

The winds were intense so

we ran for cover in a panic

between two trailers next to the stage. Moments later the stage collapsed with debris all over the place." … Dew A .: “We saw very dark clouds then birds flying around like crazy. Then in strong winds came and

started swaying the big stage

. We were all in shock to see it collapse then everyone ran to the war museum for shelter. Tons of panic and people screaming but organizers opened all gates and guided us to safety.”

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  <tr >

    ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cheap-trick.png)

     Photo from
     [
      Cheap Trick's Facebook page
     ](http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150319792042037&set=a.10150123665852037.329271.11605532036&type=1&theater)
     .

Video - just after the stage collapse - from AdammironTV :

Video of the scene behind the stage after the collapse:

   ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/humplik.jpg)

  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/63383422.jpg)

   [
    Rachelshero
   ](http://yfrog.com/ki63383422j)

  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/rs0k.jpg)

  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/mbnacollapse_adamdietrich-6.jpg)

  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/nwqzg.jpg)

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    <tbody >
     <tr >

       ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/f28h.jpg)

        [
         larissacahute
        ](http://yfrog.com/kef28hj)

  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/349102773.jpg)

   ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/herrerra.png)

    [
     Richard Herrera
    ](http://lockerz.com/s/121237982)
   
     

     

     

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    <tbody >
     <tr >

       ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/349041411.jpg)

   ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/caitlin.png)

   ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/349041740.jpg)

**

   ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/otux.jpg)

   ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/349076465.jpg)

   ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fq3w.jpg)

More video of the post-collapse chaos:

***






  







**
 [
  Frank Appleyard
 ](http://twitter.com/#!/frankappleyard/statuses/92736361886527489)
 at 7:24pm:
**
"Received a report that strong wind has blown down a stage at
[
 #ottawa
](http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23ottawa)
[
 #bluesfest
](http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23bluesfest)
."






  







**
 Ottawa Fire at 7:47pm:
**
"Search is complete of stage area and all is clear. Noone trapped #ottnews #bluesfest. No word on injuries yet."






  










 **
  [
   Ottawa Bluesfest
  ](http://twitter.com/#!/ottawabluesfest/statuses/92749706681257984)
  at 8:17pm:
 **
 "Official statement: There are no serious injuries on site."






   







 **
  [
   CTV Ottawa
  ](http://twitter.com/#!/ctvottawa/statuses/92753634902818816)
  at 8:32pm:
 **
 "Ottawa paramedics say one person taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, and another has been severely injured at
 [
  #Bluesfest
 ](http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23Bluesfest)
 ."  (And
 [
  later
 ](http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110717/OTT_bluesfest_cancelled2_110717/20110717/?hub=OttawaHome)
 : "Ottawa paramedics said a man was taken to hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries after something pierced his abdomen. He also suffered a fractured leg and pelvis.  They said two others were taken to hospital - a 46-year-old male with a neck injury and a 40-year-old male with a chest injury.  Two others were treated at the scene for ankle and knee injuries, according to paramedics.")






   







 **
  Cheap Trick on their
  [
   Facebook page
  ](http://www.facebook.com/cheaptrick)
  , just before 9pm:
 **
 "“Everyone is okay + we are so lucky to be alive and hope that all the fans are okay too.”

**

**

** See also: ** Ottawa Weather Guide

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