At least one person attending Sunday night's Dierks Bentley concert a the Utica Memorial Auditorium suffered a serious leg injury from an object that apparently fell from the ceiling.

Utica Fire Chief Russ Brooks tells WKTV that it was a metal tie rod which had been used to connect lighting to a beam. The TV station's report says the lights were previously removed but the rod remained.

In a photo sent to WIBX from a concertgoer, you can see four rows of seating in one section which were cleared by officials after the incident.

The concert continued uninterrupted and some of the fans attending the event told WIBX they were unaware of the incident.

The Utica Auditorium Administration Office released the following statement on Monday evening:

On Sunday, November 16, during a concert at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, a small metal rod detached from the ceiling and struck a woman in her left thigh. Emergency Medical Technicians and the fire marshal responded immediately and she was transported to a local hospital. The woman was treated and released from the hospital.
 

Safety has been, and always will be, our top priority here at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. We have already begun taking an aggressive look to determine why this unfortunate incident occurred and to ensure that it will not happen again. It is of the utmost importance that we continue to keep The AUD a safe and comfortable environment, and all the necessary measures are being taken to maintain that environment.

Carl Annese

Chairman, UMVMAA

 

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