Violent storm causes panic at Bluesfest concert
A 46-year-old man was seriously injured when the main stage at an outdoor concert in Ottawa collapsed in a raging storm on Sunday. The band Cheap Trick was onstage during the Bluesfest event when black clouds and lighting gathered suddenly at around 7:30 p.m., and the stage collapsed due to the strong winds. Thousands of spectators, including Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, were sent scrambling for shelter. Four other men were treated on site, with two of them being taken to hospital for chest, neck and head injuries. Emergency crews did a complete search of the debris and found no other victims, but the man hit by the collapsing stage remains in serious condition at an Ottawa hospital with a fractured pelvis and leg. The Ontario Ministry of Labour is investigating the stage’s collapse.