sugarland stage collapse reports cite inadequate construction and emergency plans

Indiana hired two consulting firms to investigate why the stage crashed before duo land would perform at Indiana state Expo last summer, they cite \"authority blur\" to explain who is responsible for and inappropriate stage construction for the tragedy that killed seven people.
The two companies, Thornton Tomasetti international engineering, Witte Society, an emergency consulting company, today, at the Expo committee meeting in Indiana, more than 80 suggestions for changes to the state Expo\'s \"inadequate\" emergency safety plan and phase-building were announced.
Just as Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush of Sugarland are about to make their debut at the State Fair in August.
On the 13 th, a powerful storm swept the area, and a huge wind blew the stage scaffold.
In addition to the deaths of seven people, dozens were injured.
Witt Associates looked at the schedule of events that caused the stage to crash.
State Expo officials reportedly expressed concern about the weather throughout the day of August.
13, and consulted Helen Rawlins, Sugar Land travel manager, who delayed or canceled the show due to the threat of thunderstorms.
Witt Associates officials said Rolin responded around 8 in the evening. m.
On the night of the performance, \"We can only play if it rains. \"At 8:30 p. m.
Witt Associates says Brad Weaver, captain of Indiana State Police
They contacted fair officials that night and said they needed to start \"shutting it down \". About 8: 45. m.
Weaver approached the officials again and said, \"We canceled the plan,\" but the stage had collapsed before they announced the delay.
Officials at Thornton Tomasetti and Witt Associates said they had problems getting information from Sugarland\'s camp and the companies involved in setting up the stage, including Mid-
Atlantic Sound Company
The company was fined because of a previous phase of crash investigation by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Authority.
Scott natchman, vice president of Thornton Tomasetti, said the stage structure became \"over-stressed and overloaded\" in bad weather and was not built or inspected properly.
Natchman said the biggest gust was 59 miles an hour on the night the stage collapsed.
He said the stage can withstand wind gusts of 25 to 43 miles per hour, but as the wind speed increases, the concrete Jersey barrier used as a stage anchor begins to slide from \"a few inches\" to \"more than 10 feet\" until the structure finally gives way.
\"Gravity has taken over and the structure cannot support itself,\" said Nacheman . \".
\"This structure is free. fall position.
Sugareman said: \"The additional sound and lighting equipment in Sugarland adds extra weight to the structure.
Without them, the stage can last up to 53 miles an hour.
Cindy Hoy, executive director of the National Exposition, speaking only at the beginning of the meeting, said that the findings of the report \"are extremely important for us as a road map for progress. . .
In hindsight, this is an incredible teacher, and this is all we have now.
\"Many victims of the collapse of the stage filed a large-scale civil lawsuit in November.
22 claiming that the negligence of Sugarland and the company involved in the construction of the stage resulted in the accident.
Nettles and Bush took part in a testimony on Thursday and Friday in Charleston, United States. Va.
Answer questions from lawyers about their decision to participate in the continuation of the performance.