INDIANAPOLIS -
All the victims of Sunday's stagecoach accident at the Indiana State Fair are out of the hospital.
State Fair Queen Erika Burghardt looked fine as she walked through the fairgrounds, resuming her responsibilities Monday. Surrounded by a group of photographers and reporters, she said, "I'm just having a really good day. Thank you."
A really good Monday after a terrible Sunday. A spectator's home video shows Burghardt sitting on top of a fast-moving stagecoach, holding on with both hands as it cut across the coliseum, then suddenly flipped over.
The queen and four other passengers were all hospitalized. Burghardt, 20, didn't want to discuss the accident.
"Everyone is doing fine," she said. "I'm fine and I am excited to be back here today."
The last of the passengers was released from the hospital Monday afternoon.
The stagecoach driver, unhurt in the wreck, works for a private contractor and had performed at the State Fair for decades. Fair officials insist this was nothing more than an "unfortunate accident."
"The driver involved has never had anything like this happen in 20 years," explained State Fair spokesman Andy Klotz.
The driver, Todd Shockey, was scheduled to perform Monday night, but left the fair, Klotz said, with his damaged stagecoach in the morning.
Indiana State police are investigating, trying to determine what may have caused the accident.
Burghardt walked into the fair crowd, eager to put the ordeal behind her and resume her royal responsibilities.
"It's my job," she said.
ISP accident report
State police released the following statement as part of their report into Sunday's accident:
"A stagecoach was performing inside the arena at the Pepsi Coliseum, loaded with six people. During a turn in the arena, the stagecoach tipped over and landed on its left side. Emergency medical personnel treated five injured and they were transported to Methodist Hospital. State Police officers were able to inspect the stagecoach and discovered no obvious mechanical issues on the coach. The animals and tack were also inspected and no defects were discovered. Officers also spoke with the driver, who was treated and released at the scene and displayed no signs of impairment. The injured were Erika Burghardt, Mulberry, IN; Melanie Grant, Austin, MN; Rodney Kohler, Fremont, OH; Gary Nebergall, Arthur, IL; Todd Shockey, Charlotte, IA; and Barbara Watson, Montpelier, OH."
A stagecoach tipped over at the State Fair Sunday.
State Fair Queen Erika Burghardt was back on the job Monday.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTHR. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
