A thunderstorm blew over supports at an outdoor performance venue in Oklahoma ahead of an appearance by the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees, injuring 14 people.
Aug. 19 (UPI) — A thunderstorm blew over supports at an outdoor performance venue in Oklahoma ahead of an appearance by the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees, injuring 14 people, officials said.
Around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, about 150 concertgoers were waiting in line at the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville when winds estimated at 70-80 mph blew over trusses at the entrance, the company said in a statement.
Thackerville is 70 miles north of Dallas just north of the Oklahoma-Texas state line.
The injured were taken to local hospitals. Two had been released, the resort officials said.
« We know that fans often suffer through inclement weather for their favorite acts, but this was an unusual event and our thoughts are with those who were injured during this storm, » the company said.
The concert was canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date. About 12,000 fans were expected to attend the concert in a venue that is east of the casino building and south of the hotel.
« Unfortunately, due to damage sustained in the storm earlier this evening, we are unable to perform the show tonight, » Backstreet Boys member Kevin Richardson posted on Twitter . « Safety is always #1. Keep your tickets because, Backstreet WILL BE BACK! »
One half hour before the storm struck, lightning was observed about 4 miles away.
In a statement, the resort said concertgoers were warned to take cover but those still in line « did not heed staff’s warnings. »
« My stomach is in knots. A pavillion collapsed in front of us on people waiting in line at the @backstreetboys concert, » Sydney Stavinoha posted on Twitter.
She latter posted: « What was supposed to be a happy day for @backstreetboys concert-goers, turned into tragedy. We witnessed the entire accident. I’m still in shock. »
Radar estimates show a range of third-quarters of an inches up to 2 inches of rain has fallen through the evening in North Texas, WTVT-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth reported.
