MEC&F Expert Engineers : Winds were up to 60 mph when a tent failed at a circus performance in Lancaster, New Hampshire, killing 2, injuring dozens

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Winds were up to 60 mph when a tent failed at a circus performance in Lancaster, New Hampshire, killing 2, injuring dozens

Winds Up to 60 MPH at Deadly Circus Accident

Winds were up to 60 mph when a tent came out of the ground at a circus performance in Lancaster, New Hampshire, Monday evening, leaving a father and his daughter dead and dozens of people injured, officials said.

Families said they had just sat down to watch the circus when a severe storm ripped a tent out of the ground and sent metal poles crashing into the audience.

About 32 people were treated for injuries, New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Bill Degnan said at a news conference this morning. There were some serious injuries, Degnan said, but the extent of the injuries was unclear.

About 100 people were in the tent at the time, he said.

The accident took place at about 5:46 p.m., Degnan said, when winds were up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service. A severe thunderstorm warning had been issued about 20 minutes earlier, Degnan said.

The incident is under investigation, Degnan said. There's no indication there will be any charges, he said.

The names of the two victims -- the father and daughter -- are being withheld pending family notification, Degnan said. Autopsies will be conducted.

According to a family member who spoke to ABC News, the dead girl was 6.

Degnan said it's unknown why the show continued during a severe thunderstorm warning. He added that it was the responsibility of the circus organizer to monitor weather conditions.

Walker International Events, which operated Monday's show in Lancaster, has canceled both of today's shows, which were planned for 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Bradford, Vermont, according to its website. Wednesday's two shows in Grafton, New Hampshire, have not been canceled, according to the website.

Walker International Events of Sarasota, Florida, did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment.

The accident came one day after a tent uprooted at a festival in the Chicago suburb of Wood Dale, killing one person. Fifteen people were hospitalized, according to Wood Dale police.