One Dead and Several Injured in Tent Collapse Outside Virginia Church


At least one person was killed and several others wounded after a large tent collapsed during an outdoor event at EastLake Community Church in southern Virginia on Friday night, a Bedford County spokeswoman said.

The church, in the town of Moneta, was hosting a free concert and outdoor service when a severe storm brought heavy rain, lightning and strong winds to the area, causing the tent to collapse just before 7 p.m., the spokeswoman, Shelley Basinger, said.

At least 11 people were transported to hospitals, while 11 others were treated for minor injuries at the church. The names of victims have not yet been released.

“Our church family suffered a great tragedy tonight,” Troy Keaton, an EastLake pastor, said in a statement posted on social media around 9:30 p.m. Friday.

The tent had passed an inspection on Tuesday conducted by Bedford County officials, Ms. Basinger said.

Several local authorities, including the Moneta Volunteer Fire Department, responded immediately, she said.

Deputy Chief James Richards of Scruggs Volunteer Fire and Rescue said he had arrived at the scene with additional responders from his department — based about 20 minutes from the church — just past 7 p.m. All individuals had been removed from beneath the tent, and the scene outside the church looked “like controlled chaos,” Chief Richards said.

In a statement provided to The New York Times on Friday night, a spokeswoman for Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, about 25 miles from the church, said it was aware of the incident and “coordinating closely with first responders and community partners.”

Mark Walker contributed reporting.



Source link

  • Related Posts

    Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey will defeat challenger Rep. Seth Moulton in Democratic primary, AP projects

    In Massachusetts’ Democratic Senate primary, the Associated Press projects incumbent Sen. Ed Markey will win. Markey, an 80-year-old progressive, staved off a challenge by Rep. Seth Moulton, a 47-year-old Marine…

    Tiger Woods expected to change not guilty plea in Florida DUI case, court records show

    Tiger Woods plans to change his not guilty plea in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida, according to court documents filed Tuesday. In March, Woods’ Land…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    This Is The Best Setting And Placement For Your Dolby Atmos Soundbar

    This Is The Best Setting And Placement For Your Dolby Atmos Soundbar

    England v Ireland: Maia Bouchier ton sets up hosts’ record ODI run chase

    England v Ireland: Maia Bouchier ton sets up hosts’ record ODI run chase

    Canada-France Joint Ministerial Statement on Ukrainian Children

    Canada-France Joint Ministerial Statement on Ukrainian Children

    PLS Exploration Delivers New High-Grade Results

    I Tested My 19-Year-Old Vitamix Against Brand-New Models. Here’s Who Won

    I Tested My 19-Year-Old Vitamix Against Brand-New Models. Here’s Who Won

    “It’s just such a huge galaxy to fill”: Don’t expect any Total War: Warhammer 40,000 sequels, but do expect lots of updates that builds upon its sandbox

    “It’s just such a huge galaxy to fill”: Don’t expect any Total War: Warhammer 40,000 sequels, but do expect lots of updates that builds upon its sandbox