Wood Dale probing fatal Prairie Fest accident
Wood Dale authorities say they are investigating whether a tent that collapsed Sunday, killing one and injuring more than a dozen others at the city's Prairie Fest celebration, was properly installed.
Deputy Police Chief Mike Rivas said the fast-moving storm roared through around 2:45 p.m., sending festival visitors scrambling for cover. Unfortunately, many took shelter under the music tent, which buckled and collapsed in the strong wind.
"It was one large gust of wind, some have described it as a microburst, and it came with absolutely no warning," Rivas said.
One of those under the tent was Steve Nincic, a 35-year-old Wood Dale man, who was attending the fest with his wife and two children. He was struck in the head by a falling tent pole, authorities said, and died several hours later. Nincic is the brother-in-law of a Wood Dale police officer.
An autopsy conducted Monday by the DuPage County Coroner's Office determined the preliminary cause of death to be "massive traumatic head injuries."
Fire Chief Tim Rouka said 22 other people were injured. Seven were treated at the scene near Wood Dale Junior High School, while 15 others were transported to area hospitals with non life-threatening injuries. One of those injured was a Wood Dale police officer who injured his leg.
Mayor Annunziato Pulice was at the festival when the accident occurred. He choked up Monday when discussing the tragedy and expressing his sympathy to Nincic's family.
"I was out there and saw it all. It was tough, tough to see," Pulice said Monday. "Honestly, I can't even talk about it. It was tragic, like something out of a movie. Unfortunately this was very real."
Nincic's widow, Nicole Nincic, could not be reached for comment but did talk to ABC 7.
"It started hailing and we ran into the tent because we had the girls and we decided to run in there to be safe. And next thing you know, it came so fast, and I thought he was behind me and he wasn't," she said.
Pulice said he has given the police department the authority to "just go ahead and do whatever they need to do" as they continue their investigation.
Nicole Nincic is a supervisor lunch aide at Wood Dale's Oakbrook Elementary School, where her oldest daughter attends classes.
Wood Dale Elementary District 7 Superintendent John Corbett said the district has offered the family any support it may need. Steve Nincic was a 1994 graduate of Wood Dale Junior High.
Counselors were on hand at summer school classes Monday to talk to any children who were either at the fest or had other connections to the tragedy.
"We're all one big family in this district so we reach out and we offer help in any way we can," Corbett said. "This was an unthinkable tragedy."
Wood Dale aldermen and City Manager Jeff Mermuys did not return calls Monday.
Nincic's visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at The Oaks Funeral Home, 1201 E. Irving Park Road, Itasca.
Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at The Oaks, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Hillside.