In hindsight, it could have been handled better — more warning, a quicker evacuation.
The shattered lives of seven victims from the state fair stage collapse leave an impression on those who were there, those who tried to help after the worst had already happened.
Seven people have died since the collapse, some on impact and some as a result of injuries.
Just days later, a stage at the Pukkelpop music festival in Belgium collapsed, killing between three and five people.
But in the midst of all this disaster, we would like to focus on something more positive that happened on Aug. 13.
Many ran away from the stage after it fell, and we don't blame them. Thousands of pounds of steel falling is not something to be taken lightly. But an amazing thing happened that night.
While people were running away, some rushed the stage in order to lift the structure off those who had been pinned underneath.
It was a shining moment for Hoosiers, one that shone like a star in the night.
This summer, Indiana has made some tough decisions, many of which were very unpopular. The elimination of funding to Planned Parenthood sticks out in our mind, as does the decrease in state appropriations to public colleges.
It's easy to argue that Hoosiers don't have much of a reputation lately.
But seeing those people rushing the stage and lifting the structure certainly brought the state back to a small shade of glory. Some possibly risked their lives in order to help those in far greater danger.
We love summer concerts, and Sugarland's sweet country music isn't that bad either. What if that was you — stranded under the massive, unbudging support beams? What if you were among the crowd? Would you help?
Local police and government officials are rethinking the way they handle bad weather. Attendance at the state fair went down 8 percent, we're assuming because of the collapse.
We're just glad there was a glimmer of hope.
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