A Freak Accident, Life is Fragile
http://news.yahoo.com/outdoor-stage-collapses-indiana-state-fair-022230858.html
This weekend I went to the Indian State Fair with my parents and one of my closets friends Whitney. We headed up early on Saturday and stopped to shop at the Outlet malls on the way and enjoy the afternoon. Later we checked in to our hotel, got ready, and headed to the fair for the Sara Bareilles and Sugarland concert that was outdoors. However, something that no one could have truly predicted drastically altered what up until about 9 pm had been a completely normal night. Sara opened for Sugarland and we loved every minute of her performance. It was such just a concert were we joked and sang along and sat in awe of the talent before us. While she was performing a storm was approaching from one side. Everything looked okay through her set and up until the last few minutes before the accident.
Whitney plays golf and works at a golf course so she is more experienced in predicting storms and takes them more seriously than most around us were. This really ended up being the right approach. Unlike me, who thought we were okay because the concert peeople were telling us Sugarland was about to come out and we may have to wait it out later but were fine for now. But Whitney and my Mom kept stating their concerns and we decided to get up and cross the street to get in a designated sheltered area. As we were doing this and squeezing by people who were still sitting in anticipation for Sugarland, we saw dust from the track kick up in a gust of wind. Seconds after is when we froze and all grabbed each others hands. Whitney grasped mine and I reached for my moms who reached for my dads. We stared as the entire stage fell into the crowd. This included the metal cage like structure around the stage, the black tarp backing, and all the equipment/props on the stage itself. I felt as though I was watching a movie clip in slow motion. I should have been able to press pause and keep it all from unfolding. We knew immediately that some injuries would be fatal and that dozens more fans would be seriously hurt. It was like nothing you could ever imagine or prepare yourself for. In that moment so many concidences lined up and that gust of wind was able to knock the stage into the fans who were trying to escape the falling metal and equipment. It is such a tragedy that was casued by such a freak accident.
We made our way to the sheltered building in shock. I felt like I could have been sick just thinking about those that were killed and hurt just maybe 50 or so yards away. I felt helpless and confused and angry all at once. All I could do was cry and pray and hope. In the middle of it all I still felt so lucky to have my parents there to wrap their arms around me and be there for me. And to have Whitney holding my hand and saying and doing all the right things. She was exactly what I needed and I'm so impressed by her strength and intuition.
My parents both admitted that it was the worst thing they had ever seen in their entire lives. And I know it is something I will never forget. It happened so quickly and is something that still makes no sense, a concert is not an aspect of life that you find threatening or dangerous. I can't believe I was there and really saw people get killed and severely injured. It truly made me realize how fragile and unpredictable life is.
My thoughts and prayers are still with those who were killed and their families as well as those injured from the accident. I hope that yours will be with them as well. They all need it so much.
This weekend I went to the Indian State Fair with my parents and one of my closets friends Whitney. We headed up early on Saturday and stopped to shop at the Outlet malls on the way and enjoy the afternoon. Later we checked in to our hotel, got ready, and headed to the fair for the Sara Bareilles and Sugarland concert that was outdoors. However, something that no one could have truly predicted drastically altered what up until about 9 pm had been a completely normal night. Sara opened for Sugarland and we loved every minute of her performance. It was such just a concert were we joked and sang along and sat in awe of the talent before us. While she was performing a storm was approaching from one side. Everything looked okay through her set and up until the last few minutes before the accident.
Whitney plays golf and works at a golf course so she is more experienced in predicting storms and takes them more seriously than most around us were. This really ended up being the right approach. Unlike me, who thought we were okay because the concert peeople were telling us Sugarland was about to come out and we may have to wait it out later but were fine for now. But Whitney and my Mom kept stating their concerns and we decided to get up and cross the street to get in a designated sheltered area. As we were doing this and squeezing by people who were still sitting in anticipation for Sugarland, we saw dust from the track kick up in a gust of wind. Seconds after is when we froze and all grabbed each others hands. Whitney grasped mine and I reached for my moms who reached for my dads. We stared as the entire stage fell into the crowd. This included the metal cage like structure around the stage, the black tarp backing, and all the equipment/props on the stage itself. I felt as though I was watching a movie clip in slow motion. I should have been able to press pause and keep it all from unfolding. We knew immediately that some injuries would be fatal and that dozens more fans would be seriously hurt. It was like nothing you could ever imagine or prepare yourself for. In that moment so many concidences lined up and that gust of wind was able to knock the stage into the fans who were trying to escape the falling metal and equipment. It is such a tragedy that was casued by such a freak accident.
We made our way to the sheltered building in shock. I felt like I could have been sick just thinking about those that were killed and hurt just maybe 50 or so yards away. I felt helpless and confused and angry all at once. All I could do was cry and pray and hope. In the middle of it all I still felt so lucky to have my parents there to wrap their arms around me and be there for me. And to have Whitney holding my hand and saying and doing all the right things. She was exactly what I needed and I'm so impressed by her strength and intuition.
My parents both admitted that it was the worst thing they had ever seen in their entire lives. And I know it is something I will never forget. It happened so quickly and is something that still makes no sense, a concert is not an aspect of life that you find threatening or dangerous. I can't believe I was there and really saw people get killed and severely injured. It truly made me realize how fragile and unpredictable life is.
My thoughts and prayers are still with those who were killed and their families as well as those injured from the accident. I hope that yours will be with them as well. They all need it so much.
Comments
Post a Comment