Man killed, multiple injured after tent collapses at Southwestern Virginia church

BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. — An elderly man was killed and 11 other people were hospitalized after a tent collapsed Friday evening during a 20th anniversary celebration at Eastlake Community Church in Moneta, Virginia.

Bedford County Fire and Rescue crews responded to the church around 6:40 p.m., where strong winds caused the massive tent to "catastrophically fail," officials said. An additional 11 people were treated at the scene and released, WDBJ reported.

Outflow winds occur when a severe thunderstorm produces high gusts of wind away from the actual storm’s location

Troy Keaton, the church's lead pastor, identified the victim as 85-year-old Bob Stouffer of Pennsylvania.

The pastor told WDBJ that Stouffer, who was one of the church's original members, and his wife had returned to attend the church’s 20th anniversary celebration.

Keaton called Stouffer a dear friend who was "a pillar in this congregation."

“One of the most remarkable men, and that’s not hyperbole, that I’ve ever known," Keaton said. "They had just moved back to Pennsylvania to be closer to their family in their later years and came back for this event. What a remarkable man of God whose legacy will carry on.”

WTVR

Keaton said he is still trying to process what happened.

“We had some opening music for 30 minutes. We finished that," Keaton recalled. "We recognized that a storm was coming. We sent the kids in and started the first song. About halfway through the first song, I grabbed the microphone and went on stage and was preparing to dismiss the crowd to their cars. And in a matter of five seconds, the tent was gone."

Keaton said he met with impacted families on Saturday to provide prayer and comfort.

“We love them. We know them very, very closely," Keaton said. "We do what Christians do, and what people do in general when these moments happen: we put our arms around each other and we trust in the Lord."

While weekend events have been canceled, Keaton said the church will hold Sunday service at 10 a.m.

Acting Fire and Rescue Chief Abbey Johnston said the tent was a 21,000-square-foot structure with a capacity of 1,500 people, properly permitted and secured before the event.

"When the high winds came through very quickly, the tent just catastrophically failed," Johnston said.

Johnston said the pastor had begun evacuating the tent when the tragedy happened.

"Based upon the weather changes, the pastor here at the church was in the process of evacuating the event and the tent when it collapsed," Johnston said. "They just didn't have enough time."

Johnston said all attendees have been accounted for.

WTVR

A witness at the scene described the chaotic moments after the collapse.

"When it happened, everybody was kind of shocked. And I honestly, I was surprised at first nobody was going crazy, but then, you know, then people were like trying to leave," the witness said.

The region had been outlooked for severe weather since Wednesday, and was placed in a severe thunderstorm watch by the National Weather Service at 2:45 pm Friday. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Bedford County around 6:20 p.m.

Attendees said they noticed a storm approaching and moments later strong winds sent the tent flying. A church member said people were hit by falling tent poles.

Johnston said the fatality was confirmed at the scene, not at a hospital. Of the 11 transported, Johnston said she believed one had life-threatening injuries but that the others were serious or non-life-threatening.

Keaton addressed the tragedy on social media late Friday.

"There were several people transported to local hospitals and we are currently focused on caring and praying for them," Keaton said. "We do not have details on their condition. Sadly one of our dear brothers suffered a fatal injury. Our hearts are broken for his precious family."

Johnston praised the response from surrounding agencies, which included units from Roanoke County, Franklin County, Roanoke and Lynchburg.

The tent remains on the ground as investigators gather evidence, including aerial footage of the structure's footprint, to determine exactly where and how it failed.

The incident remains under investigation.

Friday's storm system produced 35 preliminary high wind damage reports across Southwest Virginia and 82 statewide, according to the National Weather Service.

This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.