What began as a joyous evening quickly turned chaotic when nine people were injured in a stampede-like incident at Atlanta’s Vine City MARTA station following Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night.
As per MARTA officials, when a woman screamed and started to run, allegedly after spotting an insect, panic broke out. Many people fled in confusion as a result of the unexpected outburst, which alarmed the crowd leaving the crowded venue.
The escalator where the chaos occurred reportedly accelerated suddenly before abruptly stopping. A dangerous pileup resulted from concertgoers losing their balance and falling due to a mechanical malfunction.
Anderson, one of the victims who was pinned against a wall and suffered a leg injury, called the experience "frightful," especially because she had no control over the crowd that was rushing from behind and she was worried about her friend's safety in the midst of the chaos.
She praised the generosity and support of other concertgoers, who helped her get up and helped her retrieve misplaced items like jewellery and phones, despite the traumatic event.
Reflecting on the incident, Anderson expressed her distress, noting that instead of reminiscing about the concert’s brilliance, the focus had shifted to the frightening events that followed. She admitted it was one of the scariest moments she had ever faced.
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Eight people were taken to local hospitals by emergency services, including one with a broken ankle and seven with minor wounds like cuts and scrapes. Another participant in the incident refused medical assistance.
The episode has sparked serious concerns about crowd management and the safety of infrastructure at large-scale venues, overshadowing what had been a thrilling night for Beyoncé fans.
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