1 dead, 75 injured in Canada stage collapse

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Organizers cancelled the closing day of a country music festival in central Alberta a day after a fierce thunderstorm caused an outdoor stage to collapse, killing one person and injuring about 75 others.

Thousands of fans were camped out at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, 60 miles (100 kilometers) southeast of Edmonton, when strong winds and heavy rain struck about 6 p.m. on Saturday, sending people screaming and running for cover. The event is billed as Canada's largest country music festival with attendance estimated at 15,000.

Police and festival organizers told a news conference Sunday that one person was killed and about 75 others were injured, most of whom were treated at the site.

Camrose Police Chief Darrell Kambeitz said about 21 of the injured were taken to hospitals, two of whom were in critical condition.

Fearing a tornado, panicked fans scrambled to find loved ones and shelter after the storm struck.

"We were all racing for the exit," said Lori Trelenberg of Sherwood Park, Alberta. "It was devastation. It was strong and powerful. The stage just sort of crumbled."

The Nashville-based Billy Currington band was playing when the power went out and the stage collapsed. One band member was pulled from the wreckage with a badly injured arm, another performer said.

Actor Kevin Costner and his band Modern West were getting ready to perform next when the stage caved in. Costner's manager, Nick Meinama, said both he and the actor were caught underneath the stage.

"He was unhurt. I was unhurt. We wiggled our way out," Meinama told CTV News Sunday. "We found that our road manager and guitar player had been hurt, but the ambulance and the paramedics were here instantly to take them to the hospital."

Meinama said the two were later released from the hospital and were flying back to the U.S.

CFCW radio personality Danny Hooper was on the stage when the storm hit.

"I can't describe the sky -- it was brown and purple and green," Hooper said on CFCW. "The massive wind blew me backwards."

Claire Beaudoin was sitting only three rows from the stage when the storm struck, suddenly sending musical instruments, chairs and other debris flying. Beaudoin saw people falling.

"What went through my mind was `Oh, my God No!' It was really scary. People were crying," she said.

Vancouver-based country music singer Jessie Farrell, who had performed earlier Saturday, said it was a terrifying experience.