City officials are in receipt of an engineer’s report assessing the partial structure collapse of a section of Kendall County Fairgrounds bleachers that resulted in the death of a 79-year-old woman.
The bleacher section gave way about 9:15 p.m. Aug. 31 during the annual County Fair as a packed house was enjoying the pro rodeo. The metal structure underneath a recently created VIP section walkway faltered, sending 15-20 people tumbling to the ground below amidst a tangle of twisted metal.
Vera Smith, 79, died Sept. 5 from extensive injuries suffered in the collapse. Eleven others were injured, including seven who were hospitalized at least overnight.
“As it is part of an active investigation, no additional information is available for release at this time,” said Chris Shadrock, Boerne public information director, of the report. It is unclear if the report has been passed on to council members. It was not a discussion item during the city’s Sept. 24 council meeting.
The city received the engineer’s report Sept. 18. The engineer,
The section of county fairground bleachers that collapsed Aug. 31 are seen in this photo taken the next morning.
Star photo by Jeff B. Flinn Shadrock, said, is not a city employee, and was contracted specifically to evaluate the area where the collapse occurred.
There has been no word from any involved parties as to whether any criminal charges could be filed against any fair officials, or the people responsible for the work performed on the bleachers. The Kendall County Fair Association’s website is listed as “under maintenance.”
Texts and calls to Shane Boerner, Kendall County Fair Association president, failed to produce the name of a person or law firm representing the fair association in the matter.
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