1 dead in stage collapse before Radiohead concert

PanARMENIAN.Net - A massive stage collapse hours before a Radiohead concert was to begin in Canada left one person dead and three others injured, officials said, according to AP.

Emergency Medical Services deputy commander David Viljakainen said a man who was trapped under the rubble Saturday, June 16 was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said he was in his mid-30s.

A 45-year-old man was hospitalized with a head injury and two others were treated at the scene for minor injuries at the Downsview Park venue, said Viljakainen.

The venue said on its website that the sold-out concert was canceled.

Fire Services Platoon Chief Tony Bellavance said officials were alerted to a person trapped under the rubble and crews assisted in extracting the victim. "It was a crushing injury that killed the man," he said.

Police spokesman Tony Vella said crew were setting up the stage when it collapsed.

Dusty Lalas, an employee with Toronto Radio Station "The Edge," which was sponsoring the concert, said the structure suddenly caved in.

Radiohead tweeted that "due to unforeseen circumstances tonight's concert at downsview park tonight has been canceled. Fans are advised not to make their way to the venue."

Radiohead's website had listed the concert as being sold out, with 40,000 tickets sold.

There have been a number of concert stage collapses in recent years.

In Canada, one person died and several people were injured when the stage went down at Bluesfest in Ottawa last July, and one person died and more than a dozen were injured in 2009 when a powerful windstorm caused the main stage to collapse at the Big Valley Jamboree near Camrose.

Six people died last August when the stage collapsed at a Sugarland concert in Indianapolis; five died in Belgium when a storm swept in and toppled the stage at the Pukkelpop Festival.