State Fair queen injured in stagecoach accident

Erika Burghardt, the reigning Indiana State Fair queen and an IU junior, was one of five people injured Sunday afternoon during a stagecoach accident at the State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, according to a press release.

The stagecoach was entertaining the crowd before the eight-horse hitch competition in the Pepsi Coliseum when it overturned during a figure-eight maneuver.

All five passengers, including Burghardt, were transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital with minor injuries. Burghardt and two others were released Sunday night, and another passenger was expected to leave the hospital later in the evening. One passenger was held overnight for observation.

The stagecoach driver, who has not been identified, was examined at the scene of the accident but suffered no injuries. The reason for the overturn is unknown, but officials said the driver has 20 years of stagecoach driving experience.

The crowd at the hitch competition was asked to leave after the accident and return at 6:30 p.m. for the start of the event.

­— Katie Mettler