Officials probing New Hampshire tent collapse that killed 2

LANCASTER, N.H. (AP) — Safety officials in New Hampshire are investigating the collapse of a circus tent during a severe storm that killed a father and daughter and injured about 22 others.

"We all this morning have heavy hearts," Gov. Maggie Hassan told WMUR-TV early today. "We lost two lives — a father and a daughter — at an event that was supposed to be fun."

Authorities were looking at how the tent was put up at the Lancaster Fairgrounds, about 90 miles north of the capital of Concord. They also were talking to survivors and witnesses.

Heidi Medeiros, who was at the circus with her 3-year-old son, said it suddenly went dark and she heard someone screaming, "Get out, get out."

"I see these very large metal poles that are in the ground and go through the top of the tent, I see them starting to come out of the ground and fly up, into the air toward us," she told WMUR-TV. She said 10 to 30 seconds later, the pole slammed onto the bleacher where she and her son had been sitting.