Father, Daughter Killed in Sarasota-Based Circus Tent Collapse

A father and daughter were killed Monday night when a powerful storm toppled a circus tent in northern New Hampshire.

The horrific scene unfolded at the Lancaster Fairgrounds, which is just north of the White Mountain National Forest and next to the Vermont border.

About 100 people were inside the tent for the start of a 5:30 p.m. performance by the Walker Brothers Circus, which is based in Sarasota. Minutes into the show, wind gusts of over 75 mph lifted the tent off the ground. It then came crashing down.

The father and daughter were identified as Robert Young, 41, and Annabelle Young, 8, of Concord, Vermont. Autopsies determined their cause of death was blunt force trauma.

About 30 more people were injured and required hospitalization, the fire marshal said, adding some of the injuries were serious. Many of those injured remained hospitalized Tuesday afternoon.

Spectator Sebastian Fuentes was at the fairgrounds standing outside the tent when it collapsed. His fiance and several other family members were inside; they suffered bumps and bruises but were otherwise OK.

“The storm was bad,” he said, adding the fatal aftermath scene was “very sad.”

This is a photo of the tent taken a few hours before the collapse:

The storm was accompanied by 1-inch hail and severe lightning. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area at 5:23 p.m. The collapse happened at about 5:46 p.m., according to the fire marshal.

NWS characterized the storm as a microburst with winds possibly exceeding 90 mph.

Gov. Maggie Hassan said bystanders rushed in the tent and “helped save lives.”

“We join all Granite Staters in sending our thoughts and prayers to the family and loved ones of those we lost,” Hassan said in a statement. “We want to express our gratitude to all of the first responders who came to the aid of their fellow citizens and the bystanders who—in true Granite State fashion—also helped save lives.”

The Walker Brothers canceled two shows scheduled in Vermont Tuesday night. No one could be reached through the company’s office phone. The company is based in Sarasota, Florida.

The National Weather Service is characterizing the weather pattern that coincided with the collapse of the tent’s steel infrastructure as a microburst with estimated wind gusts of 75 mph, possibly reaching even 90 mph, Degnan said.

The fire marshal’s office said anyone who witnessed the collapse should contact them at FMO@dos.nh.gov or call 603-223-4289.

“Each person’s account provided important pieces of information that further developed the state’s understanding of this tragic event,” Fire Marshal William Degnan said in a statement.