Victims react to Fair investigation

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The release of the state fair stage collapse reports forced fans of Sugarland at the fairgrounds that night to relive the tragedy. Three of those fans were in the 24-Hour News 8 studio, watching and listening, then giving us reactions to the results of the reports.

"The answers I was looking for were more concslusive answers for the victims and the families who are still suffering and recovering, like myself," said Hillery Holt, Pendleton, who was in the “Sugar Pit” by the stage that stormy August night.

Holt is a good friend of Andrea Vellinga , among those most seriously injured in the stage collapse, The two stood together as the stage fell on both of them. Vellinga is still undergoing intensive rehabilitation as a result of her head injuries. Holt still cannot smell or taste as a result of her injuries.

Holt said what hit her hardest Thursday during the investigation reports was when Sugarland's manager Helen Rollens is quoted as saying, "It's only rain, we can play."

"I mean, it was almost like it was a laughing matter to say, ‘Oh, it's just rain,’” Holt said. “OK, the weather in Indiana can turn in a split second. It's discouraging to think she just kind of blew it off."

Cory Ramsay, one of the EMTs called into action after the collapse, was unhappy with what he heard, too.

"With the information that they had at the time, it's very definite that they could have canceled it with enough time to move people out of the way, and possibly save all seven lives,” he said.

He was angry when he heard there was no command system in place.

"We went in there. We were given a radio and told where to be, and that was pretty much it," he said.

Dan Whitehead, an attorney, was at the Sugarland concert that night as a fan.

"It seems as if they don't want to come out and be specific about those responsible for the inadequacies other than maybe the construction people of the stage," he said.

The two reports Whitehead said, aren't good enough.

"It just seems as if they built a house of cards out there with no code, no worry for life or safety of people at the fairgrounds, and money was more important than it was what happened to us," he said.

All three said they appreciated the work done by the two companies who put the reports together, but they want more. And all say they'll watch closely as lawsuits play out, to see if they get the answers for which they are looking.