Grandstand’s Collapse During Circus Hurts 44

At least 44 people were injured Saturday when a grandstand collapsed during a performance of the German National Circus, authorities said.

Most of the people suffered cuts, bruises and broken bones, hospital officials said.

The grandstand went down inside a tent where people were watching a show, and many of the spectators had already left the tent by the time police and ambulances arrived.

“It was pretty chaotic due to the number of injuries, but as far as panic, there was nothing like that,” police Lt. Gregory Ditlevson told reporters.

The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.

The grandstand was erected by circus crews and had been inspected by the city building department, said Erik German, director of the amusement park at the International Exposition Center, about 10 miles west of Cleveland, where the circus was being held.

The family owned circus has a good reputation, he said.

“Their family’s been in business since the 1700s,” German said. “The circus is put up and down literally dozens of times a week. Nothing like this has ever happened with their operation.”