St. Louis Tent Collapse Kills One And Injures Hundreds Of Others

May 1, 2012
Tents and canopies are common during outdoor spring or summer events. They provide shade and refuge from inclement weather; however, if not set up properly, these structures can become extremely dangerous and deadly.
Take, for instance, the recent story reported by KSDK 5 News of a tent collapsing in St. Louis, Missouri, in the midst of a violent storm. The accident occurred Saturday around 4:00 p.m. at Kilroy’s Bar near Busch Stadium. Several hundred people had gathered to celebrate when a storm system that dropped baseball sized hail moved into the area. Gusts of wind reportedly over 50 mph picked the tent up and blew it away, battering the patrons inside.
In all, more than 100 injuries were reported, requiring dozens to be hospitalized. In addition, a 58-year-old Illinois man perished as a result of the accident.
The building commissioner for St. Louis, Frank Oswald, confirmed that the tent had a permit and had been inspected for safety by the city, but the assembly of the tent must be to manufacturer standards, which is the responsibility of the contractor who set it up.
These types of tents and canopies could be considered a Missouri Defective Product if they are not set up to withstand the conditions that surround them. That’s why the St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers with Cofman Townsley Attorneys At Law would suggest staying away from these structures during high winds or thunderstorms.