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BREAKING: Providence Circus Accident Causes Several Critical Injuries

5/4/2014

Kevin Aherne (@KAherne17)

A day of family fun turned tragic Sunday when twenty were injured, nine of them seriously, following an equipment collapse at the matinee show of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

Nine of the performers are listed in critical condition with non life-threatening injuries according to Providence Police.

The incident occurred when an apparatus holding multiple performers was being raised to the rafters. As the apparatus reached the top of its ascension, the device collapsed, crashing to the ground from a height of nearly 40 feet.

See the video of the accident below

"The women that hang from the iron circle rafter by their hair fell to the ground after the rafter apparently broke. The fall was about 30 feet to the arena floor." said eyewitness Lisa Steele of Cranston. "People around me were in shock, the acrobat that was dancing came out from under it and was pouring blood from his head. he walked away in shock but then collapsed outside the tent."

The remaining circus performances at the 12 PM show were canceled. They 3 PM show was also canceled. The status of Sunday's evening show is still undetermined.