Circus says it’s reeling from tent collapse that killed 2

LANCASTER, N.H. (AP) — The operator of a circus where a father and daughter died in a tent collapse during a storm said Wednesday that the entire cast and crew is “reeling” from shock.

The statement from Walker International Events of Sarasota, Florida, was posted on its Facebook page. The company had not returned phone calls or emails since the tent collapsed Monday evening at the Lancaster fairgrounds.

The storm was packing winds of more than 60 mph when it blew through the fairgrounds about 15 minutes after the show started.

Fire Marshal Bill Degnan said about 100 people were inside the tent when it fell. Forty-one-year-old Robert Young and his 8-year-old daughter, Annabelle, of Concord, Vermont, were killed.

“The entire cast and crew of Walker International Events, Inc. are deeply saddened by the tragic chain of events that occurred in Lancaster, N.H.” the statement said. “We have been reeling with the shock of these events. Our very deepest condolences and prayers go out to the families whose lives were affected. We cannot begin to express the pain and sadness we feel.”

A severe weather warning was issued seven minutes before the 5:30 p.m. show started, but Degnan said it’s unclear if the circus knew about it. Degnan said the storm cut a swath from a half-mile to a mile long that included downed trees as it approached the tent.

Degnan said his office is investigating whether local officials knew or should have known the show was taking place. The show required a place of assembly permit but one was not sought, Degnan said. State law says that permit should have been issued by town officials and the town would be required to make sure the tent was inspected. The investigation is also looking at how the tent was set up.

He said the circus has been cooperative in the investigation.

Walker’s president, John Caudill Jr., has a history of violations with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, primarily while operating another company, Walker Brothers Circus Inc. Those charges are all related to animal care.

Town fire officials and the town clerk’s office referred questions to the fire marshal’s office.

A tent manufacturer said Wednesday that the large tents are designed to withstand high winds as long as they are put up correctly.

“Different tents are engineered to different specifications but almost everything today is engineered to the uniform building code so chances are it was engineered to take a 70 mph wind load,” said Randy McCauley, of Rainier Tents, a Wilsonville, Oregon-based manufacturer of event and other tents.

“It’s the anchoring that gives away,” McCauley said. “Ground conditions are critical when you’re setting a tent. If you’re not paying attention to ground conditions, a tent that isn’t anchored properly and that’s engineered for 70 mph might go over at 40 mph.”

The principal of the school Annabelle Young attended said the small community of Concord is rallying around the family.

“They’re a great family. It’s just really tragic when you take kids to have a good time, and this is what happens,” Julie Donahue said Wednesday, her voice breaking with tears. “They’re a great group of people. I just don’t have words to express how sad my school is.”

Donohue has set up a gofundme.com page late Tuesday to help the family. As of Wednesday afternoon, $8,500 had been raised toward a goal of $10,000.

“Everyone feels really helpless, and we just don’t understand how this could happen,” she said.

The school has partnered with a local mental health agency to host a forum Wednesday night for parents to learn how to talk to their children about the deaths.

Category: International