Stagecoach flips over at State Fair

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Five people were hurt when a stagecoach flipped inside the Pepsi Coliseum at the State Fairgrounds Sunday evening, one day before the anniversary of the state fair tragedy.

It happened around 5 Sunday night, just before an 8-horse hitch competition. The stagecoach performing pre-event entertainment tipped on its side while taking a turn, throwing the driver and the state fair queen from it.

There were six people on the stage coach, including the driver, a veteran with more than 20 years of stagecoach driving experience.

Witnesses said four people inside were believed to be judges for the horse event.

Five passengers, including the state fair queen, were taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital with minor injuries, and in stable condition. The driver was examined on the scene and had no injuries. His name wasn’t immediately released.

 Around 10:30 Sunday evening, three passengers were released, including the State Fair queen Erika Burghardt. They expected another to be released later Sunday evening, and said another patient would remain overnight for observation.

Lisa Jennings was one of three thousand people watching the horse event, who told 24-Hour News 8, “On the second lap around I noticed that beauty queen was holding onto the stage coach with both hands.”

“The front wheel was cock eyed and dug itself into the dirt, causing the stage coach to turn onto its side,” said witness Matthew Hall, who took video of the incident.

Hall described seeing both the driver and State Fair queen Burghardt thrown from the stage coach. “They were thrown clear of the stage coach,” he described. He added the driver got right back up and kept his horses under control immediately.

“As soon as it was thrown onto its side, people were right there, immediately,” Hall added. “The next thing you know, there are ambulances… they’re getting everybody out.”

Thousands of people were evacuated from the stands when the incident happened, but were allowed to return, and the event started around 6:30.

The accident happens just a night before the one year anniversary of the state fair tragedy.

“Of course that goes through your mind when you see something like that again. You sit there in shock, you don’t know what to think. You’re numb,” said Hall.

Indiana State Police determine the incident to be an accident Sunday evening, and said they’d closed their investigation.