CAMROSE, Alberta — Coordinators on Sunday lost 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. Actor Kevin Costner who was about to perform with his band narrowly escaped serious injury.
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 at the site Sunday that one person was killed by falling debris from the stage 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.
