Circus Comes To Hartford Following Accident That Injured 9
HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Following a circus accident in Providence, R.I. where eight acrobats and a ground worker were injured, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is set to open its "Legends" show Thursday in Hartford.
Producer Nicole Feld plans an afternoon news conference to discuss the accident and changes to the show.
Circus Comes To Hartford Following Accident That Injured 9
As WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported, the circus has tightened safety precautions since the accident Sunday in Providence.
The "human chandelier'' stunt, in which performers hang by their hair from a suspended apparatus, won't be performed.
Acrobats Dayana Costa, Julissa Segrera and Stefany Neves remain in serious condition at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.
They were among those injured Sunday when a clip at the top of the apparatus snapped, dropping them 20-feet to the ground. Officials haven't determined why that clip failed.
State Rep. Matt Ritter of Hartford said the annual event is highly anticipated by so many in the city.
"A lot of us, although deeply saddened by the tragic incident in Providence, do know that Ringling Bros. has a very good track record, they are going to look at this issue, they are not going to perform the stunts in question where the accident occurred," he told Schneidau. "People love it and the circus is a big draw here in Hartford. They're going to be performing for multiple nights, which is an indication of how popular they are."
A spokesman for OSHA said federal officials have been on site in Hartford to discuss aerial acts and safety precautions.
The circus is set to perform at the XL Center in Hartford through Sunday.
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