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St. Louis Baseball Fans’ Celebratory Event Turns Deadly With Tent Collapse

St. Louis Tent Collapse Kills 1, Injures at Least 100

One person was killed, 16 taken to the hospital and at least 100 treated on site for injuries after a tent collapsed during a severe storm. (Photo: Screenshot KSDK)

ST. LOUIS (The Blaze/AP) — One person has died and more than a dozen were taken to a hospital with injuries after high winds blew over a beer tent near Busch Stadium.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Saturday that the man who died suffered a heart attack during the commotion when a sudden storm blew through around 3:50 p.m. Saturday.

Watch this raw video of the scene from the KSDK:

The tent was set up next to Kilroy’s Sports Bar, where St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said a few hundred people were celebrating after the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers earlier in the afternoon.

The newspaper reported that it was not clear if the man who died was struck during the storm or went into cardiac arrest because of the shock.

Kilroy’s owner Art Randall said things were flying through the air sideways and metal chairs were being flung across the beer garden by the storm.

Witnesses said the storm lasted several seconds and estimated the winds were between 60 to 80 mph.

CNN has more:

“We had live wires lying on the ground. We have severe injuries to quite a few people,” said St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson. “This gives us nightmares.”

The area had been under a severe thunderstorm watch, with a warning issued shortly before the incident.

“The wind speed when it hit that tent could have been 40 to 50 miles per hour, may have been stronger. It’s hard to tell,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Kramper. “This cell blew up very quickly.”

A strong thunderstorm north of the city produced golf-ball-sized and larger hail, according to Kramper.

Emergency officials said 16 people were taken to hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to very serious. KSDK reported that fire officials said five people were in critical condition and 100 people were treated at the scene.

Comments (23)

  • TulsaYeeHaw
    Posted on April 29, 2012 at 1:11pm

    This same thing happened in Tulsa a few years ago during OctoberFest. The storm came in so fast, there was no warning. Luckily everyone was OK.

    Report Post »  
  • PointOfImpact
    Posted on April 29, 2012 at 8:30am

    Condolences to the families of the victims.

    I will make no crass remarks about saving the beer.

    Report Post »  
  • Harley Grit
    Posted on April 29, 2012 at 8:05am

    Kilroy’s, the tent company, the power company, Jim Beam, the rail system expect to see your names on a wrongful death suit!
    Ah…what would we do without lawyers!!!

    Report Post » Harley Grit  
  • karen162
    Posted on April 29, 2012 at 7:38am

    Sorry for the man. People die every day. Not much you can do about it. Although when I go, I hope its not in a beer tent getting struck by lightning. I hope I am doing something a little more constructive and positive when it happens.

    Report Post » karen162  
  • notreally
    Posted on April 29, 2012 at 6:54am

    What we need is a federal “Tent Safety Agency” which will require a budget of 5 billion per year and 5,000 federal workers to staff it. If Obama is re-elected…look for it.

    Guess how many patent examiners the feds have: 6,500, all high-GS pay grades.

    Report Post »  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on April 29, 2012 at 4:13am

    Well …What this story isn’t saying is….
    Ever since Our country went to war on “THE SMOKER”.. MOST places are NON-SMOKING.
    And ALL these drinking establishments/bars are trying to accommodate the “smoking patrons”
    to drum up business .
    They are NOT allowed to smoke inside …So these bars make “outdoor patios” for the smokers..
    They have “heated tents” for them in winter ..AND they “stage outdoor events”
    so that the common drinker -smoker ..Does not feel like a SECOND CLASS CITIZEN.
    I cant blame the Bars for trying to have a successful business..
    This tragedy can be laid at the feet of ALL the bleeding hearts out there..
    That want to dictate to others… …how to live.

    Report Post » sawbuck  
    • trinklefinder
      Posted on April 29, 2012 at 4:32pm

      That is exactly right! There are five who are critically injured from this incident, that wouldn‘t have happened if they didn’t have to smoke in a tent! Ridiculous.

      Report Post » trinklefinder  
  • SAY_NO_TO_DOWNTOWN_LOFTS
    Posted on April 28, 2012 at 11:25pm

    Simple. St. Louis is a big city full of tall high-rise buildings. Some of which people actually live in. They’re called “downtown lofts”.
    Busch Stadium is located next to these high-rise lofts in downtown St. Louis, MO.

    Check this out for example
    http://countondowntown.com/2010/11/roberts-tower-downtowns-new-gem/

    Stuff like that is all over cities like St. Louis.

    Further proof:
    http://www.loftsinthelou.com/

    Stuff like this is Un-American, and a total slap in the face to the American Dream. Real Americans don’t live in places like this, especially not true patriotic Americans. Glenn Beck left New York City because of all the tall high-rise buildings there. He moved to Texas where there is wide-open country, and real Americans who live the way every American should; not in big tall downtown city lofts.

    Report Post »  
    • trinklefinder
      Posted on April 29, 2012 at 4:41pm

      Busch Stadium is located right next to a big undeveloped piece of land that was supposed to be Ballpark Village. Ask anyone in St. Louis about it and you will get an earful. You sure we are talking about the same Saint Louis?

      Report Post » trinklefinder  
  • hillbillyinny
    Posted on April 28, 2012 at 11:14pm

    What?!

    Report Post »  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on April 28, 2012 at 10:12pm

    God, please bless the family of the man who died, and help the injured. I live across the river from St. Louis. These massive storms have been going on all afternoon. Heavy winds, severe thunderstorms, large damaging hail, tornadoes, heavy rain, dangerous lightening……we are not finished yet. You get used to the sudden weather changes here. You never get used to loss of life.

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on April 29, 2012 at 9:28am

      Agreed. I grew up 2 hours south, and lived across the river for 4 years. i found out from a high school friend about this. I don’t know if anyone I know was involved, but I don’t think so.

      Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on April 28, 2012 at 9:47pm

    Heck hear in Colorado we can get hurricane force winds on a clear day as well as get those sudden burst of winds that can ramp up in a twitch of an eye.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • COFemale
    Posted on April 28, 2012 at 9:45pm

    Brings a whole new meaning to “scared to death”; my condolences to the family of the man who died. God rest his soul. When something like this happens it can make your heart skip a beat and his did big time.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • theninthplanet
    Posted on April 28, 2012 at 9:04pm

    I’m in St. Louis right now for the FIRST Robotics championship event… luckily everyone was inside the Edward Jones dome while this happened… Walking back to my car, there were many branches down, orange construction barrels tossed about, along with signs down.

    Prayers go out to the victims.

    Report Post » theninthplanet  
  • Apple Bite
    Posted on April 28, 2012 at 8:57pm

    what in the hell were they celebrating in this weather? Get indoors!

    Report Post » Apple Bite  
    • SageInWaiting
      Posted on April 28, 2012 at 9:30pm

      You have NO idea of what living in the midwest is like. I grew up there; I’ve seen trees blown down in such winds. I watched the StL weather radar – this storm cell formed quickly and had a strong straight-line wind front. Compassion and prayers are required, not snarly comments.

      Report Post » SageInWaiting  
    • COFemale
      Posted on April 28, 2012 at 9:42pm

      Forgive her for she is from Media Blathers, she is not responsible for her mental state. It is not nice to pick on the mentally challenged.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • SageInWaiting
      Posted on April 29, 2012 at 12:13am

      My cousin stopped my mom’s house; we couldn’t contact her because she was without power on her side of the street, She thought she got a good deal with a VoIP i-net phone package… guess I’ll be getting her a UPS for the router and the phone…..

      Report Post » SageInWaiting  
    • TulsaYeeHaw
      Posted on April 29, 2012 at 1:08pm

      Apple, where do you live?

      I’ve seen the sky go from cloudless, to a tornado on the GROUND in 7 minutes. Relax on these people, the storm was fast forming and fast leaving, they never even had a rain delay at the game.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on April 28, 2012 at 8:54pm

    God help comfort the family of the one who died.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • lukerw
    Posted on April 28, 2012 at 7:55pm

    What way to go… in a Beer Tent :)

    Report Post » lukerw  

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