Gov. Daniels reacts to Fair investigation reports

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Gov. Mitch Daniels was pleased with the work of two firms that investigated the Aug. 13 collapse at the Indiana State Fair.

Daniels released a statement on Thursday after the reports were presented by Thornton Tomasetti and Witt Associates.

“I don’t think we could have done better than these two world renowned firms. I thank them for their thorough and professional work,” Daniels said.

The firms points to major structural faults with the stage and emergency planning.

“The State Fair Commission knows that we will insist on immediate and complete implementation of the recommendations in this report,” Daniels continued. “But it’s also now clear that most, if not all states, have been deficient in this area and have much to learn from this tragedy.”

The stage rigging collapsed prompted a meeting on safety standards for temporary stages that will be hosted in Indianapolis later this month, Daniels said. Seven people died and dozens of others were injured when the stage rigging went down on a crowd of Sugarland fans.

“We will share freely all these findings and suggestions with any state who will listen, starting later this month at a national meeting in Indianapolis about national safety standards for outdoor temporary stages and structures,” Daniels said.

“We’d give anything to have that night over, but occasionally something positive can come out of terrible tragedy, and we have to do all we can to make that happen here,” he continued.