Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Collapsed Stage At Indiana State Fair Didn't Require Inspection
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 16, 2011
Modified Aug 16, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 16, 2011
Modified Aug 16, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Because it was not technically a "structure," the stage and scaffolding that collapsed and killed 5 people at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday was not subject to any inspection or regulation whatsoever. A spokesman for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, which is charged with inspecting buildings, elevators, and rides, tells the Indianapolis Star, "There is no permitting process" for erecting such a stage. "There is no regulation on it. We do not regulate putting up of scaffolding in a business or an entertainment setting or anything of that type."
Despite Indiana Code stipulating that "a structure—temporary or permanent" must withstand winds up to 90 mph, a rep from the IDHS tells the paper, "You're talking about scaffolding and equipment, not a structure." The winds that knocked the scaffolding over were between 60 and 70 mph. A fellow at the American Institute of Architects called the stage "unbelievably flimsy" based on photos he saw before its collapse.
Meanwhile, friends and family of 29-year-old Bronx native Christina Santiago, continue to mourn her death in the accident. "I know a lot of people who are waiting for their dreams to come true, and Christina was living her dreams," a friend tells NY1. Santiago had been managing the Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago, the city's "leading health care center for gays and lesbians." Santiago was a committed activist for LGBT and Latino rights, and had planned to wed her longtime partner, who was severely injured in the incident, next fall in a civil union.
Tagged
bronx
indiana state fair
indianapolis
lgbt rights
tragedies
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Published Oct 8, 2026
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
By
Sonia Rao
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
By
Alec Hamilton
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .