Stage collapses before Radiohead concert; 1 dead

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Associated Press

Posted on June 16, 2012 at 9:01 PM

Updated Saturday, Jun 16 at 11:01 PM

TORONTO (AP) — One person is dead and three are injured after a massive stage collapsed hours before a Radiohead concert in Toronto.

A police spokesman says crewmembers were setting up the stage at the Downsview Park venue when it collapsed.

Dusty Lalas, an employee with a Toronto radio station sponsoring the concert, says the structure suddenly caved in. Lalas says there was a loud crash and it sounded like sheet metal and lightning.

Another witness says security officials rushed to evacuate the area. Jaime Rivest says there were possibly 1,000 people there hours before Radiohead was to take the stage at 9:30 p.m.

Authorities say there will be an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.

Radiohead tweeted the concert had been canceled "due to unforeseen circumstances." The band's website had listed the concert as being sold out, with 40,000 tickets sold.

Sound:

%@AP Links

242-a-06-(Tony Vella, constable, Toronto Police Service, in AP interview)-"will be laid"-Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella says an investigation has begun into the cause of the collapse. (16 Jun 2012)

<<CUT *242 (06/16/12)>> 00:06 "will be laid"

238-a-07-(Tony Vella, constable, Toronto Police Service, in AP interview)-"came crashing down"-Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella describes what happened at the Downsview Park concert venue. (16 Jun 2012)

<<CUT *238 (06/16/12)>> 00:07 "came crashing down"

231-a-05-(Unidentified witness to stage collapse, in interview)-"the stage was"-This man, who was at the park where the stage collapsed, says spectators rushed towards the stage to help, but authorities turned them back. COURTESY: CTV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (16 Jun 2012)

<<CUT *231 (06/16/12)>> 00:05 "the stage was"

APPHOTO NSD122: A man stands near a collapsed stage at Downsview Park in Toronto on Saturday, June 16, 2012. Toronto paramedics say one person is dead and another is seriously hurt after the stage collapsed while setting up for a Radiohead concert. They say two other people were injured and are being assessed. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette) (16 Jun 2012)

<<APPHOTO NSD122 (06/16/12)>>

APPHOTO CPT111: This aerial view shows a collapsed concert stage at Downsview Park in Toronto, Saturday, June 16, 2012. The top of a stage being set up for a concert by band Radiohead collapsed, killing one of the stage workers preparing for the event. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Toronto Star, Tara Walton) (16 Jun 2012)

<<APPHOTO CPT111 (06/16/12)>>

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