Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse Investigators Launch Website

The Indiana State Fair Commission is launching a website that they hope will help in investigating the tragic stage collapse a few weeks ago, which has resulted in seven deaths to date. Concertgoers will be able to assist, provided they have photos and video of the stage to share online, but must first go through a credential procedure that has been set.

Thornton Tomasetti, an international engineering firm, will conduct the accident investigation, and is hopeful that fan-submitted documents will help them better understand what happened on August 13. What they do know is that high winds contributed to the incident, in which the stage rigging toppled just minutes before Sugarland were due to take the stage at the fair. The stage collapsed on the 'Sugar Pit' below, killing five and injuring many at the time. The death toll has risen to seven since the tragedy.

The website -- www.in.gov/sfc -- has a strict protocol in place to keep the site access limited to authorized officials only. Those people include lawyers representing state fair victims as clients, as well as engineers or "technically qualified persons" and at least quasi-governmental entities seeking code information. For those who don't meet the criteria but want to share their photos and videos to aid the investigation, a direct submission form is now online.

As of August 24, there are four impending lawsuits against the state of Indiana due to the tragedy.