INDIANAPOLIS — A sudden fluke windstorm that collapsed the stage Saturday evening at the Indiana State Fair, has claimed the lives of five people, including Chicago LGBT activist, Christina Santiago.
Photo via: The L Stop
Santiago was the programming manager for the Lesbian Community Care Project (LCCP) at Chicago’s Howard Brown Health Center.
With a heavy, heavy heart we report that Christina Santiago was amongst those killed in the Indiana State Fair accident.
Before the band Sugarland was able to perform, strong winds knocked down the stage onto the crowd. Christina was amongst the 4 killed instantly. Her partner, Alisha Marie Brennon, a member of the Chicago Force, was also in the crowd and is currently in critical condition.
via: The L Stop
In a press statement released Sunday afternoon, Howard Brown President Jamal M. Edwards said “the sudden and devastating loss of Christina has left the entire community, including her Howard Brown Health Center family, heartbroken.”
“She has been a leading and driving force in the expansion of our women’s health services division and a powerful advocate for all LGBT women,” said Edwards.
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Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels called the accident an “unthinkable tragedy” and said the wind burst was a “fluke” that no one could have foreseen.
Warning: the video below is disturbing:
Dozens of people — including several children — remained hospitalized Sunday, many with life-threatening injuries.
