Bronx Native Christina Santiago Killed In Stage Collapse At Indiana State Fair

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - One of five people killed in a stunning accident at the Indiana State Fair Saturday night was a Bronx native.

Christina Santiago, 29, was among those in the front rows of the outdoor concert venue where country group Sugarland was set to play.

A powerful gust of wind - reportedly more than 60 miles per hour - dragged at the stage rigging. The stage buckled, and ultimately collapsed into the crowd.

Gabrielle Rivera was a friend of Santiago since they were 8 years old.

"I just couldn't stop crying...just to think of my Christina, like of what happened to her," a tearful Rivera told CBS 2's Don Dahler.

"Maybe she's with her mother now. Her mother passed away when we were kids," Rivera said.

In addition to killing Santiago and four others, dozens more were hospitalized. Some have life-threatening injuries.

Santiago had been living in Chicago, where she managed a health care center. Family, friends and co-workers gathered to remember her Sunday night.

The deadly incident was captured on video.

Just before the stage collapsed, an announcer warned the crowd the storm was blowing in, and offered instructions on how to safely evacuate should the weather worsen.

However, Meteorologist Mike Smith said there were "telltale signs" the bad weather that impacted the concert could "have been anticipated."

Sugarland was moments away from taking the stage when the tragedy happened. Singer Jennifer Nettles said she watched video of the collapse on the news "in horror."

Has this tragedy changed your opinion of seeing a concert outdoors? Sound off in our comments section.