Several Beyonce fans were injured after a shouting passenger on a train sparked a stampede following Queen Bey’s recent performance in Atlanta early on Tuesday, according to the New York Post.
Following Beyonce’s 'Cowboy Carter' tour stop at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, alarming footage from the scene showed concertgoers being loaded onto ambulances on stretchers or wheeled away in chairs to receive paramedic attention. Some of the injured were even seen wearing cowboy hats.
Officials who spoke to Atlanta News First revealed that as fans were leaving the concert and heading towards the Vine City MARTA station, a passenger began shouting and running frantically, triggering a rush on the escalator.
An eyewitness told Fox 5 that the escalator suddenly accelerated before coming to an abrupt halt, causing fans to be “smashed together” with several people falling on top of one another.
Nine people were admitted to hospital with bruises and scratches, and one sustained an ankle injury.
Authorities have yet to disclose the cause of the escalator malfunction as fans exited the stadium shortly after midnight following Beyonce’s final Atlanta show on her Cowboy Carter tour.
“The escalator has been cordoned off. Manufacturer Schindler, along with MARTA Safety, will conduct an investigation,” the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority said in a statement to the New York Post.
The MARTA service also tweeted, "Delays occurring in Blue Line service, due to a medical emergency at Vine City. We apologize for any inconvenience (sic)."
“Officers responding to the scene found that the escalator had suddenly stopped, resulting in multiple patrons falling onto each other,” the police added, as reported locally. An enquiry into the incident is currently ongoing.
The unfortunate event followed the theft of an SUV belonging to a member of Beyonce’s Atlanta crew, which reportedly contained unreleased tracks by the star.
Source: India Today