Nine acrobats were seriously injured Sunday after falling from an aerial platform during a circus performance, a safety official said. The accident happened at around 11:45 a.m. during the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus' Legends show at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence.
Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare said the acrobats fell 25 to 40 feet, but officials and inspectors haven't yet determined what caused the accident.
He says, "Obviously, something went wrong."
Roman Garcia, general manager of the show, said the accident occurred during the "hair hang" act, where performers hang from their hair.
He said all the injured acrobats are conscious. The Dunkin' Donuts Center says two shows scheduled for later Sunday and two others Monday are on hold. Othello Smith tells the Providence Journal that the performers were doing an aerial act, spinning on ropes or cables, when they dropped.
The 3pm show Sunday has been cancelled.
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