Tour Manager's Intuition Saved Sugarland

Hellen Rollens held band backstage
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 16, 2011 7:39 AM CDT
Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse: Tour Manager's Intuition Likely Saved Sugarland
Indiana State Police and authorities survey the collapsed rigging and Sugarland stage on the infield at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011.   (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

As she looked at the sky Saturday night, Sugarland tour manager Hellen Rollens decided to go with her intuition and hold the band backstage. One minute later, wind gusts sent the Indiana State Fair stage crashing down into the audience, killing five and injuring dozens. "As a tour manager, it's super important to understand what the weather conditions are when you play outside," the band's manager tells the AP. She adds that others thought it would be safe to go onstage, so Rollens' "decision to hold them for literally a minute saved every band member and crew's life." (More stage stories.)

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