Ultra Music Festival Stage Collapses During Sound Check, Several 'Critically' Injured UPDATED

Ultra Music Festival Stage Collapses During Sound Check, Several "Critically" Injured UPDATED

By Tim Elfrink Thu., Mar. 14 2013 at 8:50 PM

Categories: News

via @Jave305's Twitter

Emergency crews surround the Ultra staging area in Bayfront Park.

A stage has collapsed in Bayfront Park during a sound check for this weekend's Ultra Music Festival, injuring several and sending police cruisers and ambulances swarming to the park. At least three people are en route to local hospitals, and several more are being treated at the scene, Gossip Extra reports. The Miami Herald says "up to four people have been critically injured."

There's no information yet about what caused the collapse, but high winds have been howling through Miami tonight.

See also:
- How Russell Faibisch Built Ultra Music Festival

Update: The Herald now reports lighting equipment fell during the setup. A source tells Riptide the stage's LED display fell onto the victims.

Update 2x: WSVN is reporting the main stage is closed until tomorrow morning, when Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors can take a better look. However, it seems Ultra 2013's kickoff tomorrow will go on as planned.

Update 3x: Ultra has released a statement. Read it after the jump.

Update 4: CBS4 reports that one of the two men who was seriously injured has been released; the other, ID'd as Joseph Green, remains hospitalized with two broken legs. Fire inspectors are checking the stage to see if the festival gates can open as scheduled this afternoon.

Statement from Ultra about tonight's accident:

Today (Thursday, March 14) as preparations were being made for this weekend's Ultra Music Festival, a section of an LED screen fell and injured two workers. Fire Rescue was on site, so there was a rapid response. Festival organizers are working with, and supporting, authorities as they investigate the details behind the accident.

The accident apparently happened during a run-through of the sound systems before this weekend's massive EDM party draws tens of thousands to the area.

Downtown residents have been posting photos to Twitter of the darkened park full of ambulances, but it's tough to tell how large a portion of the stage has collapsed from the shots.

We'll update this post when Miami police have more information to release about the collapse. Here's @Jave305's shot in full:

via @Jave305's Twitter

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Michael del Vice

I really hope they spent a little more than a few million dollars building those stages...

Bigdic topcommenter

All these venues are about promoters getting rich quick, the Band's drunk & laid along with some walk around cash & you the stupid public pay for it all & sometimes with your life. Stay home.

Paul M. Conley

Did they release the names of the people that were injured? I've got a friend that was supposed to be working there, who's not picking up his phone. :(

Jorge Castellanos

All the parts are from China....lol Hope all hurt b ok, but Couldve been really ugly if had hap'd DURING event... Ultra has some Ultra problems now ://

Miami New Times

UPDATE: Ultra Music Festival has released a statement http://bit.ly/ZsiV4B

Joe LaDuca

Amazing how the uninformed have such strong opinions about professionals doing their job. There are bonds and liability insurance on all of this, and someone is there to ensure it doesnt fall on the children.

Donnie Donnie

@hank everybody from everywhere cuts corners on a job, dont think only miami does that, come on get real

Asüka Bazüka

1 Like

It's all Swedish House Mafias fault! Fire them!

Geral John Pinault

Oh no, not another black eye for Miami! Oye!!!

Hank Kennedy

Wouldn't be surprised if they cut corners. We even have a first hand account of neglect by the set-up people. It's miami people..people always cut corners here. I also work in the industry..

pod_nt

Our sources say it was part of SHM's setup? http://forum.talknightlife.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=21625

Jesse Justin Alvarez

Ed Ochoa

En Cuba una casa de campana dura el ano entero y con siclones ni se cay paravajo, alavao socio!

Raul Diego

Christian, I don't need to see a blueprint when I'm looking at the structure. And 'temporary structures (built) in a matter of days gets pretty close to the definition of adhoc. I also find it unnerving that the concern over negative PR would take priority in your mind over peoples' general safety.

Hugo Cardenas

^^^ Raul Diego... What a dumbass!

Kurt Schweizer

yikes. i hope everyone will be ok.

Patrick Butters

Ultrap 2013

Christian Napolitano

Raul, I can't question your judgement because I don't know what you do for a living , but maybe you need to see some blueprints and logistics before labeling a multi-million dollar project "adhoc" just from what you gathered from "passing by". It's a shame this will bring negative PR to this event before people even acknowledge how windy tonight was and how these workers understand the risk they are undertaking while constructing these massive temporary structures in a matter of days.

Susy Jimenez

And so it begins

Kyle Nolfo

smh

Myra Wexler

WOW. How UNfortunate!!! : (

Nicholas Siberio

Better today than tomorrow right.

Raul Diego

Passed by there this afternoon and I couldn't help noticing how adhoc the stage installations seemed, with random concrete slabs stacked together to weigh down some of the huge canopies. Maybe they should send in some inspectors before risking the lives of thousands of kids.