There was widespread fear and confusion for some fans leaving a Beyonce Cowboy Carter concert in Atlanta on July 15. Several people were injured in their rush onto an escalator at a public transportation station. What set off the mass panic was evidently a child's scream upon seeing an insect.
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What Happened That Night
Departing fans streamed into the Vine City Station of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) after Beyonce's Tuesday show. They were startled and alarmed when they heard a sudden scream. A MARTA official explained the circumstances that led to the dangerous crush to People.
Senior Director of Communications for MARTA Stephany Fisher said, "Just after midnight on Tuesday, July 15, 11 people leaving the Beyoncé concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta were injured on an escalator at Vine City Station. One person suffered a broken ankle, seven people were transported to the hospital with cuts and scrapes, and one person declined transport. Two people requested medical assistance after reaching their destinations."
Fisher added that MARTA police observed that "a person began screaming and running, causing a stampede on the escalator that caused it to temporarily speed up and then stop suddenly."
The escalator's malfunction is being looked into by its manufacturer, Schindler, and MARTA.
The Sighting Of A Bug By A Youngster Who Screamed Apparently Touched Off The Incident
Two officials with MARTA - Acting CEO Rhonda Allen and MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher - both said that the frenzy began with someone who screamed upon seeing a bug.
Per the outlet, Fisher said, "MARTA Police on scene said there was a scream, and witnesses said the person who screamed was reacting to an insect. I believe there's also video on TikTok of a woman claiming it was a 10-year-old relative who screamed when she saw a bug."
The Escalator's Manufacturer Issued Two Statements
:Per People via 11Alive, Schindler said, "We are aware of the incident that occurred following the conclusion of a nearby concert on an escalator at Vine City Station, stemming from a sudden crowd surge/stampede. We extend our sympathies to the passengers who were injured. We take the safety of the riding public seriously and are committed to working closely with MARTA, Vine City Station personnel, and local authorities to fully investigate and determine the cause of the incident. At this time, we have no verified information as to the cause and it would be inappropriate to speculate."
The Escalator Appears to Have Been "Overloaded"
In another statement, the company said, "As previously stated, we are aware of the incident that occurred at Vine City Station on July 15th. As reported during yesterday's MARTA Working Session, the escalator was inspected by state officials the morning following the incident and there was no indication of equipment malfunction; rather, preliminarily it appears that the escalator was overloaded beyond design capacity causing the unit to briefly accelerate and the brakes to engage as part of the unit's multi-layered, code-required safety system. As also indicated during the Working Session, prior to the incident, the escalator has undergone standard monthly maintenance with the most recent service taking place on July 10th, less than a week before the incident. The escalator was found to be fully compliant and performing as expected at that time. Again, we extend our sympathies to the persons injured and will continue to provide technical support and cooperate fully with any further investigative efforts."
