WOOD DALE, Ill (CelebrityAccess) — A man was killed and dozens injured, at least three seriously, after a sudden storm collapsed a tent at the Prairie Fest in the Chicago suburb of Wood Dale on Sunday
According to the Chicago Tribune, approximately 100 people sought shelter under the tent after the storm hit, however, the high winds pulled the tent from its moorings, flipping a section over. 35-year-old Steven Nincic was struck by a steel support pole and killed, Wood Dale police said.
“The wind got under it and uprooted everything,” Wood Dale Police Chief Greg Vesta told the Tribune. “Within a couple of minutes, it went from nothing to high winds, heavy rain and hail.”
According to the Tribune, the City of Wood Dale runs the annual 4 day festival, but had hired a private contractor to erect the tent.
Lollapalooza, taking place in nearby Chicago, also had a taste of the inclement weather on Sunday, forcing organizers to shut the event down for an hour on Sunday afternoon. They also ended the festival approximately 30 minutes early on Sunday night when another storm hit the area. Approximately 89,000 fans safely exited the grounds after the weather alert, the festival promoter said. – Staff Writers
