one of the five killed in indianapolis last night was a union worker doing his job.

[spanone]

Nathan Byrd - 51

Member of Local 30 of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees.

'The report of another fatality has not yet been confirmed by authorities, and the stage crew member declined to be interviewed. He did say his friend had been working up in the rigging when the collapse happened, and was crushed. Both are members of Local 30 of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees.'

this has since been confirmed.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20110814/NEWS15/108140419/Death-toll-reaches-5-State-Fair-Sugarland-stage-collapse?odyssey=nav%7Chead

[Brickbat]

1. RIP, brother.

[spanone]

2. amen

[Mojeoux]

3. + 100%

RIP to everyone who died, but it is good to point this out. This guy was OTJ.

[spanone]

4. so sad-so was a manager at Chicago's leading health center for the gay and lesbian community

Alisha Brennon and her partner Christina Santiago thought they were about to have a perfect night as they sat in the front of the stage where the country music band Sugarland was set to perform Saturday evening at the Indiana State Fair.

But moments later, a powerful wind toppled the stage, killing Santiago, 29, a manager at Chicago's leading health center for the gay and lesbian community, and four others. The accident also seriously injured Brennon and more than 40 other concertgoers. Brennon remained in an Indianapolis hospital Sunday in critical condition.

......Santiago, a native of New York, had a major impact on Chicago's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, Hernandez and others who knew her said. She was the programming manager for the Lesbian Community Care Project at the Howard Brown Health Center, officials at her employer said Sunday.

Jamal Edwards, president and CEO of Howard Brown, said Santiago and Brennon had been together a little over two years and were inseparable. Brennon did not work at Howard Brown, but she was such a constant presence there she had many friends, he said.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-woman-dies-in-indiana-fair-stage-collapse-20110814,0,2794126.story