A teenage student is in a critical condition in hospital and dozens more have been injured when a stage collapsed halfway through a school performance.

The incident, which was captured on video, occurred during the finale of American Pie at Westfield High School, about 20 miles north of Indianapolis.

Local police captain Charles Hollowell said the stage buckled under pressure as a large group of students involved in the show ran onto the stage for the big finish.


Captain Charles Hollowell, left, of the Westfield Police Department said more than 12 injuries were reported (Picture: AP)

One witness told Indiana news channel WTHR: ‘It all just collapsed under them. We didn’t think it was real at first.’

Another student, AJ Hillis, said he saw one student with a broken leg, while three ambulances responded quickly to treat the injured as bystanders looked on, confused.



‘Nobody was expecting this. Everyone was seriously excited about it and it was a hyped-up performance,’ he said, adding that many thought it may have been an elaborate stunt.

None of the students’ injuries are said to be life-threatening.

A still from a video uploaded to YouTube, shot by fellow student Zach Rader (Picture: AP)