Indiana High School Stage Collapse Prompts Investigations
There are many questions surrounding the collapse of a stage during a high school play that sent 16 students to the hospital.
The stage collapse at Westfield High School was reminiscent of a temporary stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair in 2011 that led to the adoption of new inspection laws.
Multiple agencies are investigating the April 23 collapse of a theatre stage in Indiana that injured 16 high school students.
A spokesman for Indiana’s Department of Homeland Security said it is unclear if inspections of school stages are required under state laws. The superintendent of Westfield Washington School District, which is located 20 miles north of Indianapolis, said the stage was only a few years old and that school officials will provide inspection information to officials if they have any.
The collapse occurred during a performance at Westfield High School when dozens of students jumped up and down while singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” Now the State Fire Marshal’s office, Indiana State police and Indiana’s workplace-safety agency are investigating, according to wane.com.
The questions surrounding the collapse are similar to the case of a stage rigging in 2011 that collapsed onto fans, killing seven and injuring dozens more at the Indiana State Fair. That catastrophe fueled new regulations for temporary staging, though not for the permanent staging that collapsed on Thursday,
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