Ind. gov. hires outside firm to review fair issue

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana has hired an outside firm to help with its investigation into a fatal stage collapse at the state fair after questions were raised about the state's ability to conduct an objective probe itself.

Gov. Mitch Daniels' office announced late this afternoon that the state had hired Witt Associates, a public safety and crisis management firm based in Washington, D.C., to conduct a "comprehensive, independent analysis of the state fair's preparedness and response" to the collapse that killed five people and injured four dozen as they waited for a concert by country act Sugarland.

The company will assess the "adequacy of state fair procedures and the effectiveness of decision-making," as well as the response to the accident, according to a statement from Daniels' office. The report will be sent to Daniels and the Indiana State Fair Commission.

"We believe we have the best people in America looking at every angle of the accident," Andre Lacy, chairman of the fair commission, said in a statement.